For the second time in under 48 hours, supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt on Saturday, opposing the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State. The protest, which took place around the Polio Club in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), involved mainly youths, who claimed that no legitimate council election was taking place in the state.
The protesters pointed to an Abuja Federal High Court ruling, which directed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid involvement in the elections.
Henry Bobmanuel, one of the protesters, stated, “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.”
Despite the protests, elections proceeded across the 23 local government areas, with voting materials distributed to wards and units statewide.
In a related incident, suspected arsonists targeted the Port Harcourt Aba Road Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the early hours of Saturday. The explosion destroyed the secretariat’s gate, along with doors, windows, and other property. APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, condemned the attack, calling it a “reign of terror, horror, and impunity.”
When asked about the incident, state Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko said she had not yet received a report.
