The ongoing crisis in Rivers State regarding the local government elections has escalated, with protesters aligned with former governor and current minister Nyesom Wike taking to the streets to voice their opposition.
Reports indicate that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had previously announced its intention to proceed with the elections as planned. In a statement released late Friday, RSIEC emphasized, “For the avoidance of doubt, we affirm that the Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State will take place on October 5, 2024, without any changes.”
On Saturday, the demonstrators began their protest at the Polo Club in Yenagoa before marching along the busy Aba Road in Port Harcourt. They carried banners and placards demanding that Governor Siminalayi Fubara comply with a Federal High Court ruling that annulled the elections.
Additionally, it was reported that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were gathering at their party secretariat in Port Harcourt to launch a similar protest.
Despite the unrest, Governor Fubara has remained firm in his stance that the elections will proceed, accusing the Nigerian Police of bias and failure to provide adequate security for the voting process.
As the local government elections commenced in various parts of Rivers State, tensions continue to rise amidst the protests.
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