Locals protest against Rivers LG poll

A different group demonstrated on Saturday against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission-supervised electoral process, which is being monitored by the commission, twenty-four hours after a pro-election demonstration in favour of the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State. 

Recall that demonstrators invaded the RSIEC building on Friday to show support for the polls, causing a protest to occur in Port Harcourt's streets. 

But the current demonstration, which was mostly coordinated by young people, started at the GRA Polo Club neighbourhood in Port Harcourt and moved throughout the larger GRA area.

They emphasised that they are depending on the Abuja Federal High Court ruling, which directed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission to abstain from the elections, and stressed that there isn't a local government election in the state.

Speaking to the crowd, one of the protesters, simply identified as Bobmanuel, said, “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.”

Election materials have been supplied to all wards and units, and the election is still going on in all 23 local government areas of the state, despite reports of certain areas receiving their supplies later than others. 

As of the time this report was filed, our correspondent, who is now keeping an eye on the election, noticed that voting had begun in Ward 7, Unit 1 in Bagha, Khana Local Government Area, and that everything was going according to plan. Election supplies had not yet arrived in Khana LGA's Ward 11 in Kono. 

Voters could be seen queuing in Rumukalabo, Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 in the Port Harcourt City LGA, where sensitive materials had not yet arrived.

Source