On Friday, angry protesters gathered at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, demanding that the scheduled local government elections proceed as planned.
The demonstrators, undeterred by the heavy rain, set up canopies, drummed, and chanted slogans like “Election must hold,” blocking one side of the road in the process.
The protest followed an earlier incident in which Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara confronted the Rivers State Police Command at the RSIEC office.
INEC Suspends Re-run Elections in 20 Polling Units Across Kano, Enugu, and Akwa-Ibom StatesYou can also read:
Fubara expressed his displeasure at their attempt to halt Saturday’s election, stating, “Keep your security, I do not need it. It happened in Anambra State. This election must hold on Saturday. The result will be declared, and the winners will be sworn in.”
In the early hours of Friday, around 1 a.m., security operatives thwarted an attempt by individuals disguised as police officers to breach the RSIEC office and steal sensitive electoral materials intended for the upcoming election.
According to a source present during the incident, vigilant security personnel alerted key officials of the commission, leading to swift intervention by government authorities, including Governor Fubara.
The protest also comes after the Rivers State Police Command, citing a Federal High Court ruling, announced the withdrawal of its officers from providing security for the Saturday election.
You can also read: Edo State Election: INEC Set to Publish Governorship Candidates’ Particulars