Supporters of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held a protest on Saturday morning near the Polo Club in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt.
They voiced their opposition to the local government elections currently taking place in Rivers State. The group, mainly made up of young people, gathered to declare that they believe there are no legitimate council elections happening in the state.
Around 100 protesters attended the demonstration, stating that, as law-abiding citizens, they felt obligated to follow a recent Federal High Court ruling from Abuja.
This ruling instructed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay away from the electoral process.
One protester, Henry Bobmanuel, expressed their views, saying, “We are law-abiding citizens, which is why we are not participating in the elections. We gathered here to tell the world that there i yous no local council election in Rivers State.”
Despite the protest, reports indicated that election materials were still being distributed across various wards and units in some local government areas at the time of the protest.
Areas like Bonny, Obio-Akpor, Abua/Odual, Emohua, Ikwerre, Etche, and Port Harcourt City had received sensitive materials by 8:45 a.m.
Voter accreditation was taking place at Unit 6, Ward 5, in the Okomoko community in Etche. However, in Ward 5, Units 9, 10, and 15 in Port Harcourt City, voters were seen waiting at polling units, with no election materials yet delivered.
In same vein, PHALGA Ward 18, Units 13, 14, and 15 reported the timely arrival of materials, with voting wrapping up by 10 a.m. Conversely, polling units in Rumuibekwe and Rumuekini within the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area reported no sign of elections by 9 a.m., as a few voters waited calmly for the materials to arrive.
In Buguma, located in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, there was a large turnout of voters, and the atmosphere remained peaceful.
Shops near polling units were closed, while police vans patrolled the state capital. Some security vehicles were stationed near the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office.
Notably, while police officers were absent from polling units, other security agencies, such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local security teams, were present to maintain order.
