In a disturbing turn of events, heavy gunfire erupted in the Rumuepirikom community of Rivers State, the hometown of former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Local sources report that earlier in the day, individuals entered the community and declared that residents should refrain from participating in the local government elections. As electoral officials were on their way to the polling ward in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the gunmen appeared, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that deterred voters from coming out.
Reports indicate that at least one person sustained a gunshot wound and has since been transported to a medical facility for treatment.
Adding to the tension, suspected arsonists detonated explosives at the All Progressives Congress (APC) office in the state earlier on Saturday.
Witnesses noted significant damage at the party’s secretariat located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. The explosion severely damaged the gate and destroyed doors, windows, and other property at the site.
This incident is not the first of its kind; similar explosions have previously targeted the APC secretariat in the state.
These violent occurrences coincide with ongoing disputes regarding the conduct of local government elections in Rivers. Tensions have been escalating between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as the electoral commission and state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over the election process.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) remains committed to proceeding with the local government elections as planned.
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