Seventeen political parties are to contest for positions in the local government elections planned for Saturday in Rivers State.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had initially listed 18 political parties, but the All Progressives Congress wrote to the commission that it would not be participating in the election.
Our correspondent, who visited the RSIEC office along Aba Road, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, observed that the names of candidates for the chairmanships 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.
