The controversial Rivers State local government elections held on Saturday against all odds following the adamant posture of the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Though few areas recorded pockets of violence, others were generally peaceful as voters lined up in some wards to cast their ballots without molestations.
Prior to the election explosions unsettled the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat located along the busy Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The explosives suspected to be dynamites shattered buildings and property in the secretariat and created panic in the neighborhood.
The Rivers State Police Command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that double explosions rocked the city of Port Harcourt on the election day.
The statement said the first explosion was reported at the APC Secretariat on Aba Road at approximately 3am.
She said: “A security guard reported hearing a loud bang and, upon investigation, observed three black Toyota Hilux vans speeding away from the scene. The explosion caused significant damage, destroying the gate and shattering the windows of the building. Additionally, the security building was set ablaze”.
She said the second explosion occurred at the Obio/Akpor Local Government secretariat around 3:30am.
She said eyewitnesses reported sighting a black Toyota Hilux van and a white Toyota Sienna minivan drive past the secretariat.
She said: “The occupants of these vehicles allegedly threw an object, suspected to be a stick of dynamite, which shattered the roof and caused damage to the generator house of the complex.
“In response to these incidents, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Anti-Bomb Squad have been mobilized to both locations. An improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered at the APC secretariat, and the team has identified the use of incendiary materials in the arson of the security building.
“The Anti-Bomb Squad has collected samples from both scenes for forensic analysis, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous acts. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
“We assure the residents of Port Harcourt that every possible measure is being taken to enhance security and ensure the safety of our community”.
There was also heavy protests led by elders and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
Thousands of protesters gathered at the Polo Club area of GRA and marched along the ever busy Aba Road bearing placards and banners with various inscriptions.
They were heard chanting, “no elections” as they brandished banners with inscriptions, “Fubara must obey Federal High Court Judgment”.
But elections, which witnessed massive voter turnout in some areas and apathy in other zones went on especially in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor.
Despite late arrival of voting materials, the elections were generally peaceful.
A voter, Igwe Goodluck, from Ward 15 commended the electoral process saying it was “free and fair and credible”.
In wards 15, 9, and 17 in Obio-Akpor, there were reports of missing result sheets as the Labour Party Councillorship candidate, Amadi John, said late arrival of electoral materials and lack of result sheets and voting without voters’ cards marred the exercise.
The exercise was reportedly seamless in Asari-Toru Local Government area as voters in ward 6, 2 and ward 8 voted without issues.
The voter turnout in the area was said to be impressive as long queues of residents waited patiently to cast their votes.
Electoral officials in Asari-Toru commended the peaceful conduct of the elections in the area saying notjing disrupted tge exercise.
In Asari-Toru, security personnel were said to be visibly present maintaining order and ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections.
There was an incident at the Elekahia Primary School, Port Harcourt, where operatives of the Nigerian Police were said to have arrived the area shooting teargas and seizing election materials.
They reportedly stormed the area on about 21 Hilux patrol vans and fired many teargas canisters.
RSIEC officials who had set up their booths to begin accreditation in Ward 19 were said to have run to different directions for safety.
Some of the policemen, who wore masks were said to have collected the electoral materials, fired more teargas canisters before leaving the area.
Many RSIEC officials, voters and residents of the community ran into nearby streets to save their lives.
But pictures and videos clips of most Fubara’s candidates contesting on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP) were seen casting their ballots at their walls.
A former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Austin Opara, was also seen voting at his unit.
Some of the Returning Officers were seen declaring winners of their various local government areas
For instance, Mr. Lazarus Gogoteh Nteogwuile, an APP candidate, was declared the winner of the Andoni Local Government Area.
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