Port Harcourt’s local government elections faced disruption by men in police uniforms, while a candidate supported by Governor Fubara secured victory. Get details on the interference and the election results.
On Saturday, officials from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and voters were forced to flee for safety when armed individuals disguised in police uniforms appeared at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government. These assailants deployed teargas and confiscated election materials.
Approximately 21 Hilux patrol vans carrying heavily armed men were seen entering the venue from Elekahia Road and promptly launched several tear gas canisters.
RSIEC officials, who had established their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19 with its 10 units, hurriedly sought safety as the operatives forced them away from the entrance.
An armed individual confronted an INEC official, demanding, “Come here and take off that vest. What are you doing here?”
The armed men, some wearing masks, demanded that the officials remove their vests and hand them over. They ensured they took all election materials while also discharging additional teargas.
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The armed individuals also fired tear gas canisters straight into the crowd of people desperately trying to escape.
One of the armed individuals launched another tear gas canister at bystanders near the entrance of Ibe Street in Elekahia, causing residents and voters to scatter in all directions.
Numerous RSIEC officials, voters, and local residents hurriedly fled to Ibe and Boms Streets in the Elekahia community in a state of confusion. This heightened tension in the area as several police patrol vans rapidly left with numerous election materials.
When reached for comment, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, stated that she was unaware of the incident.
“I’m not aware. You’re just telling me now,” she said curtly.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara secured victories in his ward and local government during the chairmanship and councillorship elections held on Saturday. He supported the candidate of the Action People’s Party (APP) in Rivers State.
Fubara, a notable member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), comes from the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, where Enyiada Cookey-Gam, the chairmanship candidate for the Action People’s Party (APP), has been declared victorious in the election.
