Protests have erupted again in Rivers State, this time against the ongoing local government elections being overseen by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Just 24 hours after a pro-election demonstration in support of the elections, a new group took to the streets on Saturday, expressing their opposition to the electoral process.
The latest protest, primarily organized by youths, began at the Polo Club in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt. From there, the demonstrators marched through the broader GRA neighborhood, voicing their concerns. They argued that there was no valid local government election taking place in the state, citing a court order as the basis for their claim.
One of the protest leaders, identified as Bobmanuel, addressed the crowd, stating, “We are law-abiding citizens; that’s why we are not participating in the elections. We gathered here to tell the world that there is no local council election in Rivers State.” The protesters pointed to a Federal High Court judgment from Abuja, which they claim instructed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to participate in the elections.
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Despite the protests, the election process has continued across the 23 local government areas of the state. Election materials were distributed to wards and units, although there were reports of delays in some regions. In areas like Ward 7, Unit 1 in Bagha, Khana Local Government Area, voting was observed to be proceeding smoothly. However, in other areas such as Ward 11 in Kono, also in Khana LGA, electoral materials had not yet arrived by the time of this report.
In Rumukalabo, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, voters in Units 1 through 8 were seen waiting for sensitive materials, which had not yet been delivered.
The opposing protests highlight the division in Rivers State regarding the conduct of the local government elections. While some support the elections and believe in their validity, others argue that the court ruling has rendered the process illegal.