Seventeen political parties have been confirmed to battle it out for positions in the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday in Rivers State.
The confirmation was made by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, which had initially listed 18 political parties for the election.
However, the All Progressives Congresswrote to the commission that it would not be participating in the election.
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A visit to the RSIEC office along Aba Road, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, revealed that names of candidates for Chairmanship and Councillorship positions have been published and posted on the walls of the commission.
The Young Progressives Party is fielding only one chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship candidate from Okrika LGA and only one councillorship candidate from Oyigbo LGA.
The African Democratic Congress and Social Democratic Party have the second-highest number of candidates with about 15 Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship candidates and over 80 candidates for the councillorship positions.
On its part, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship candidates from the 23 local government areas, even as it is fielding 319 Councillorship candidates.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, has warned that no effort would be soared in arresting anyone caught trying to cause a breach of the peace during the April 17 council poll.
