Rivers LG Poll: Voters accuse police of disrupting results collation in Port Harcourt
There has been significant disruption during the local government elections in Rivers State, particularly at the collation center in Ward 19, Elekahia, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. Voters reported that police officers arrived at the scene firing shots and using tear gas, causing chaos and panic among the electorate.
Upon arriving at the collation center, our correspondent observed several ballot papers littered at the entrance, indicating a hasty exit from the polling process. Voters present at the center stated that the voting process had already concluded and counting was underway before the police intervention.
As of the time our correspondent reached the location, there were no police officers available to provide an account of the events. However, the Rivers State Police Command has promised to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
Despite various controversies surrounding the local government elections, including court orders that directed police not to participate, the elections proceeded as planned. Prior to the elections, police authorities in the state indicated that they would not provide security for the polls, citing the aforementioned court order.
READ ALSO : RSIEC goes ahead with Rivers LG polls
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) confirmed just before the elections that the local government council elections would be conducted as scheduled. RSIEC Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, Tobin Tamunotonye, emphasized that the elections would take place without delay.
In a related incident earlier that morning, explosives were detonated at the secretariat of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Tony Okocha. The explosion, which occurred around 3:20 AM, resulted in shattered gates and doors. Okocha alleged that the incident was politically motivated, attributing blame to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who he claimed had previously declared a war over the local government elections.
Okocha expressed his belief that the attack was a deliberate attempt to undermine the APC, stating, “Is APC secretariat here any voting unit? There is no voting unit here. So, it was deliberate to see how they can annihilate us.”
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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