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BREAKING: Wike Supporters Storm Streets In Protest, Reject Rivers Council Elections

Published

2 months ago

Oct 5, 2024.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, held a peaceful protest on Saturday morning in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt, expressing opposition to the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State.

The protest, which took place near the Polio Club, saw about 100 participants, mostly youths, denouncing the legitimacy of the council election process.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that The protesters stated that they were abiding by a recent Federal High Court ruling from Abuja, which directed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay away from the elections. They argued that, as law-abiding citizens, they could not participate in what they described as an illegitimate election.

Henry Bobmanuel, one of the protesters, explained their position, saying, “We are law-abiding citizens, that’s why we are not participating in the elections. We gathered here to tell the world that there is no local council election in Rivers State.”

Despite the protest, election materials were being distributed in various parts of the state. Checks by The Guardian revealed that by 8:45 a.m., sensitive election materials had arrived in local government areas such as Bonny, Obio-Akpor, Abua/Odual, Emohua, Ikwerre, Etche, and Port Harcourt City.

At Unit 6, Ward 5, in the Okomoko community of Etche, voter accreditation was already underway, while in Ward 5, Units 9, 10, and 15 in Port Harcourt City, voters waited patiently at polling units for materials that had not yet arrived.

However, in PHALGA Ward 18, Units 13, 14, and 15, election materials arrived on time, and voting was completed by 10 a.m.

In other areas, such as Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, polling units in Rumuibekwe and Rumuekini showed no signs of election activity as of 9 a.m., though a few voters remained calm while waiting for materials to arrive.

Wike Supporters Protest Rivers Elections

Buguma, in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area, experienced a large voter turnout, with a peaceful atmosphere reported in the area. Shops remained closed, while police vans were seen patrolling the state capital. Security vehicles were also stationed near the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office.

While police officers were notably absent from the polling units, other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local security outfits, were on the ground to maintain order and ensure a peaceful voting process.