Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, held a peaceful protest on Saturday morning near the Polio Club in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt, opposing the local government elections currently underway in Rivers State.
The protesters, primarily composed of young people, gathered to declare that they do not recognize any legitimate council elections taking place in the state. Numbering around 100, they expressed their commitment to abiding by a recent Federal High Court ruling from Abuja, which ordered both the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from participating in the electoral process.
One of the demonstrators, Henry Bobmanuel, spoke on behalf of the group, stating, “We are law-abiding citizens, which is why we are not taking part in the elections. We have assembled here to inform the world that there is no valid local council election happening in Rivers State.”
Despite the protest, investigations by The Guardian revealed that election materials were being distributed in various wards and units across certain local government areas at the time of this report.
By 8:45 a.m., sensitive materials had already been dispatched to areas such as Bonny, Obio-Akpor, Abua/Odual, Emohua, Ikwerre, Etche, and Port Harcourt City.
Voter accreditation commenced at Unit 6, Ward 5, in Okomoko community, Etche. Meanwhile, in Ward 5, Units 9, 10, and 15 in Port Harcourt City, voters were waiting at polling stations, although no election materials had arrived yet.
However, in PHALGA Ward 18, Units 13, 14, and 15, materials arrived on time, and voting concluded by 10 a.m.
In the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, polling stations in Rumuibekwe and Rumuekini showed no signs of electoral activity as of 9 a.m., with a few voters waiting patiently for materials to arrive.
In contrast, Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area experienced a large voter turnout, and the situation remained largely peaceful. Shops in the area were closed, while police vans patrolled the state capital, and security vehicles were stationed near the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office.
Although police officers were not seen at polling units, other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local security teams, were on hand to maintain order.
