Chaos erupted in Rumuepirikom, the hometown of former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as unidentified gunmen opened fire, disrupting the local government elections in the area. The gunfire left residents terrified, forcing many to stay indoors and avoid participating in the electoral process.
Eyewitnesses from the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area reported that the gunmen arrived shortly before electoral officers were set to reach the polling station. A source disclosed that earlier in the day, individuals had gone around the community, warning people not to come out to vote.
“They came and announced that no one should step outside for the elections,” the source revealed.
As the gunmen fired shots into the air, voters scattered, fleeing for safety. One person was reportedly injured by a bullet and was rushed to a nearby healthcare facility for treatment. The identity of the attackers remains unknown, and their motives for disrupting the election are unclear.
The violence at Rumuepirikom is just one of several incidents that marred the local government elections in Rivers State. Earlier in the day, suspected arsonists detonated explosives at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital. The explosion severely damaged the party’s office along Aba Road, destroying the gate, doors, windows, and other property. Although this is not the first time such an attack has targeted the APC’s office, the destruction has raised concerns about escalating political violence in the state.
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The tension surrounding the local government elections has been building for weeks. The APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been at odds with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the conduct of the elections. Despite the violent disruptions, RSIEC stated that the elections would proceed as planned.