• Jonathan: Crisis is threat to democracy, peace in Niger Delta
• APP wins 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats; PDP, APC stay away
• Thugs raze AKISIEC office as Akwa Ibom holds LG election
• Logistics challenges affect Benue council poll
Explosions, gunshots, a fresh wave of protests and multiple cases of alleged voter intimidation were the main features of the local government election in Rivers State yesterday.
Preparation for the poll had been dogged by litigation and controversy over its legitimacy, culminating in a verbal war between Governor Siminialayi Fubara and Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun on Friday.
The police had declared that they would not provide security during the election following Fubara’s insistence on proceeding with the poll in spite of a court injunction to the contrary.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan urged caution by the gladiators in the Rivers State crisis, saying it should not be allowed to degenerate to a level that could truncate the nation’s democracy.
One of the explosions occurred at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat located on the busy Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; the other at Rumuodumaya, headquarters of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The explosions shattered the buildings involved and caused panic in the two areas.
The Police confirmed the development.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the first explosive, which was apparently planted by hooligans, went off at the APC Secretariat at approximately 3am.
“A security guard reported hearing a loud bang and upon investigation observed three black Toyota Hilux vans speeding away from the scene,” she said.
She added: “The explosion caused significant damage, destroying the gate and shattering the windows of the building. Additionally, the security building was set ablaze.”
The second explosion occurred at the Obio/Akpor Local Government secretariat 30 minutes later, according to her.
Eyewitnesses reported sighting a black Toyota Hilux van and a white Toyota Sienna minivan drive past the secretariat about the time of the explosion.
She said: “The occupants of these vehicles allegedly threw an object suspected to be a stick of dynamite, which shattered the roof and caused damage to the generator house of the complex.
“In response to these incidents, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Anti-Bomb Squad have been mobilised to both locations.
“An improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered at the APC secretariat, and the team has identified the use of incendiary materials in the arson on the security building.
“The Anti-Bomb Squad has collected samples from both scenes for forensic analysis and investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
“We assure the residents of Port Harcourt that every possible measure is being taken to enhance security and ensure the safety of our community.”
We’re under attack, says APC’s Okocha
The Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the state, Chief Tony Okocha described the incident as an attack on the APC.
“APC is under attack in Rivers State and this attack is unnecessary and uncalled for,” he said.
He blamed the situation on the lack of security required for an election of that nature.
His words: “We reminded Nigerians that there is a court judgment. It is a court order in a matter that passed through the processes.
“The judgment was given and the judge clearly said that the election scheduled for today did not comply with the constitution and the laws of the state.
“The judge barred the police and the DSS from participating. Imagine where the police and DSS are not part of the election.
“This morning at 3:30 am, my phone kept ringing. The admin notified me that our office had been attacked with explosives.
“The CP had come here to see things for himself. This is the second attempt after they did the first one.
“This structure is not our own; it is a rented apartment.
“We are under attack. They are chasing us everywhere but we are not bulging. They resorted to attacking our facilities.
“There is no voting unit here. Why did they attack here? Every time the governor and his team are having an event, APC would be marked out as scapegoat.
“It is expected that we are the target and it is clear that APC Rivers State is under attack by the government of Rivers State-sponsored hoodlums.
“Proper investigation should be conducted so that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are brought to book.
“APC and her members are under serious attack, and we need security to keep us safe. It is not that we can’t unleash mayhem, but we are cultured and we respect the rule of law.
“Let the governor respect the rule of law. If he hadn’t gone ahead with this charade today, everybody would have gone about their normal activities.
“We won’t take the law into our hands.”
Apart from the explosion at the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area secretariat, heavy shooting was also reported in Rumuepirikom in the area by unidentified men whose alleged intention was to scare residents from voting in the election.
Men in police uniform disrupt voting in Port Harcourt
The election process was disrupted at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government after armed men dressed in police uniform stormed the polling unit, firing tear gas canisters into the air.
They also allegedly seized election materials.
Officials of the state Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) and voters took to their heels on sighting the gunmen.
Anti-poll protesters take to streets afresh
Elders and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took to the streets of Port Harcourt afresh yesterday to express their opposition to the conduct of the election.
The protesters marched along Aba Road, carrying placards and banners with various inscriptions such as “No elections” and “Fubara must obey Federal High Court Judgment”.
At the RISIEC Secretariat, the state chairman of PDP, Chukwuwmeka Aaron, said the desolate appearance of the building yesterday was a confirmation that there was no election going on.
“Does here look like where any election is being organised? To start with, our governor is a PDP governor and his party is not participating in the election, and you say you are doing an election? Is it not anti-party?” he said.
“There is no election in Rivers. All those who man the wards in our LGA are all here. Thank you for coming out to register your grievances and to see things for yourself.
“If you hadn’t come out, you wouldn’t have known that there was no election. We want to urge you to return to your wards and stay calm. We heard that in an hour they would announce results.
“We are law-abiding citizens and we have complied with the Federal High Court judgment. Let no person fight and let no person quarrel.
“Whatever they want to announce today is not genuine. We must obey the rule of law. Don’t let anything bother you.”
The elections went on all the same with voter turnout relatively high in some areas and low in others.
Voting materials arrived some polling units late.
A voter, Igwe Goodluck, from Ward 15, commended the electoral process, saying it was “free, fair and credible”.
In wards 15, 9 and 17 in Obio-Akpor, there were reports of missing result sheets as the Labour Party councillorship candidate, Amadi John, said late arrival of electoral materials and lack of result sheets and voting without voter cards marred the exercise.
The exercise was reportedly seamless in Asari-Toru Local Government Area as voters in wards 6, 2 and 8 voted without issues.
The voter turnout in the area was said to be impressive as long queues of residents waited patiently to cast their votes.
Electoral officials in Asari-Toru commended the peaceful conduct of the election in the area, saying nothing disrupted tge exercise.
There was no election from Rumuola to Rumueprikom area of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Police personnel were not seen at any polling unit in line with the position of the Force Headquarters to obey a Federal High Court order on the election.
APP wins 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions
Results of the election were quick in coming.
At press time, RISIEC had declared the chairmanship election results in 22 of the 23 local government areas.
The outstanding result was that of Etche Local Government Area (LGA).
All the results went in favour of the Action People’s Party (APP) whose candidates are supporters of Governor Fubara.
They were to contest on the platform of the PDP but had to turn to the little known APP after Fubara lost out to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in the battle for the control of the PDP structure in the state.
Both PDP and APC boycotted the election.
The Chief Election Officer of the RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli, said the results for Etche LGA would be declared alongside that of the 319 councillorship seats at a later date.
Ahead of yesterday’s election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, had said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not handed over the state’s voter register to RSIEC.
Sinikiem explained that INEC traditionally provides the voters register to RSIEC before local government elections, as mandated by law. However, INEC’s compliance was hindered by a court order from the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Dr. Sinikiem said RSIEC had submitted two requests for the voter register but INEC’s hands were tied due to the court directive.
Jonathan: Crisis is threat to democracy, peace in Niger Delta
Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pleaded for restraint by the gladiators in the political crisis in the state.
He warned that the crisis has the potential to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement reminiscent of his “no election is worth the life of any Nigerian” declaration after losing the 2015 presidential election, Jonathan drew comparison between the Rivers situation and the political crisis of the old Western Region.
He said the consequences could be far-reaching if left unchecked.
He said: “The political happenings in Rivers State in the last five days are a cause for serious concern for everyone, especially lovers of democracy and all actors within the peace and security sector of our nation.
“Elections are the cornerstone of democracy because they are the primary source of legitimacy. This process renews the faith of citizens in their country as it affords them the opportunity to have a say on who governs them.
“Every election is significant, whether at national or sub-national levels as it counts as a gain and honour to democracy.
“It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, especially state institutions, to work towards the promotion of sound democratic culture of which periodic election stands as a noble virtue.
“Democracy is our collective asset. Its growth and progress is dependent on government’s commitment to uphold the rule of law and pursue the interest of peace and justice at all times.
“Institutions of the state, especially security agencies, must refrain from actions that could lead to breakdown of law and order.
“Rivers State represents the gateway to the Niger Delta and threat to peace in the state could have huge security implications in the region.
“Let me sound a note of caution to all political actors in this crisis to be circumspect and patriotic in the pursuit of their political ambition and relevance.
“I am calling on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to take action that will curb the proliferation of court orders and judgments, especially those of concurrent jurisdiction giving conflicting orders.
“This, if not checked, will ridicule the institution of the judiciary and derail our democracy.
“The political situation in Rivers State mirrors our past, the crisis of the Old Western Region. I, therefore, warn that Rivers should not be used as crystal that will form the block that will collapse our democracy.
“State institutions especially the police and the judiciary and all other stakeholders must always work for public interest and promote common good such as peace, justice and equality.”
LG poll: Thugs set AKISIEC office in A’Ibom ablaze
A similar local government election in Akwa Ibom State yesterday recorded a case of arson in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
Men suspected to be thugs set the office of the State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) in Ibiatuk on fire.
The State Police Public Relations officer, ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident, however, said no life was lost and electoral materials were not affected.
John said the incident did not affect voting, adding that voters were casting their votes as at press time.
According to her, the police command had deployed more police operatives to AKISIEC offices across the state to forestall further mayhem.
Meanwhile, the election was characterised by late arrival of materials and absence of security operatives at polling units.
At Unit 001 Ward 14 in Uyo Local Government Area, there were no materials as at 10.02 am. No AKISIEC and security officials were present.
The same scenario played out at Unit 2, Ward 11 in Itu Local Government Area of the state.
Logistics challenges affect Benue council poll
Logistics also appeared to be the main challenge of the local government election conducted yesterday in Benue State.
Materials for the election arrived late in many polling units, according to reports from different parts of the state.
However, the Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Mr. Terlumun Tombowua, expressed satisfaction at the turnout of voters.
Speaking on the phone with The Nation after monitoring the exercise, Barrister Tombowua described voters’ turnout as encouraging.
He said the delivery of voting material was “also perfect”.
In Ugba, headquarters of Logo Local Government Area, some voters were seen on queue complaining that they were yet to see polling officials and materials.
