By MAUREEN DICK and ERIC MOORE
THE controversial local government election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), on Saturday, has ended, recording some skirmishes.
But, some electorate adjudged the poll as most peaceful in the history of voting in the state, despite pockets of disturbances in a few polling units and wards.
Earlier, there were moves to instill fear in Rivers residents with the incident of explosion at the Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat in Port Harcourt, and demonstration by protesters loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The second explosion occurred at the Obio/Akpor Local Government council Secretariat around 3:30 am.
Another security threat occurred when RSIEC officials ran for their lives, as armed men dressed in police uniform stormed at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government firing teargas canisters and seizing election materials.
No fewer than 20 Hilux Patrol Vans with heavily armed men were spotted driving into the venue from Elekahia Road and immediately fired several tear gas.
The men in Police uniform arrived there after RSIEC officials had set up their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19, which has 10 units, forcing them to scamper for safety as the operatives chased them out of the entrance.
One of the armed men ordered INEC official, saying, “Come here, remove that vest. What are you doing here?”
Some of armed men, whom were masked, also commanded the RSIEC officials to remove their vests and hand them over to them as they ensured that they carted away all election materials and fired more teargas.
Checks by Pentoks News revealed that the election which took place in the 23 Local Government Areas recorded voter apathy due to perceived security threats.
The Nigeria Police Force had withdrawn from the election in compliance with a Federal High Court order, Abuja, and advised others security agencies to do the same.
But, the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had vowed that nothing would stop RSIEC from conducting the council poll having concluded every arrangement to ensure a free, fair and credible election that would be adjudged most peaceful in the annals of Rivers’ election history.
However, just a few hours before the exercise, the secretariat of the APC located in Port Harcourt was reportedly attacked.
The explosion was believed to involve dynamite, which caused damage to the main gate and the security post of the APC secretariat, as well as portions of a nearby building.
In a brief message sent to journalists in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, attributed the attack on the secretariat to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Okocha wrote: “At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office.
“The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire.”
The APC had previously declared its intention to abstain from the local government elections scheduled for this Saturday throughout the state.
But, the Emeka Beke-led factional APC loyal to former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, had announced willingness to participate in the council poll, denying Okocha as chairman of APC in the state.
Also, the ruling party in the state, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Chukwuemeka Aaron, also announced its decision to refrain from participating in the election.
The Saturday protest drew a large crowd and was organized in response to what Wike’s supporters described as irregularities in the electoral process.
The demonstrators, carrying placards with messages like “Obey Court Order” and “No Justice, No Election,” expressed frustration over the conduct of the elections and demanded that RSIEC halt the polls and abide by the court’s ruling.
A recent judgement by the Rivers State High Court had reportedly ordered the suspension of the elections, following legal challenges to the process.
The court found procedural flaws in the organization and scheduling of the elections, prompting Wike’s camp to call for a postponement.
However, RSIEC went ahead with the elections despite the ruling, leading to protests from Wike’s loyalists.
All supposedly candidates of the PDP loyal to Governor Fubara contested under the Action Peoples Party (APP).
At the time of filing the report, collation of results was ongoing.