Supporters of Nyesom Wike, the former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Saturday to protest the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State.
The protesters gathered in large numbers and demanded that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) respect a recent High Court judgment that ordered the suspension of the elections due to procedural flaws.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Obey Court Order” and “No Justice, No Election,” the demonstrators expressed frustration over the conduct of the elections and called for a halt to the polls.
The protesters argued that the elections were marred by irregularities and that RSIEC should abide by the court’s ruling.
The High Court judgment had identified procedural flaws in the organization and scheduling of the elections, prompting Wike’s camp to demand a postponement.
However, RSIEC decided to proceed with the elections despite the ruling, sparking protests from Wike’s loyalists.
According to reports, the protests were peaceful, with protesters gathering near the Polio Club in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt.
One of the protesters, Henry Bobmanuel, stated that as law-abiding citizens, they were following the ruling of the Abuja Federal High Court, which directed the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay away from the elections.
Meanwhile, elections were ongoing in various wards and units across the state, with voter accreditation and voting underway in some areas, while materials had not yet arrived in others.
The protests occurred amidst tensions and a suspected bomb attack at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Aba Road.
