Rivers State: Voting kicks off

Rivers State: Voting kicks off

Saturday, March 9, 2019 12:12 pm


Soldiers on parade in Rivers

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Elections have started in Rumuagholu in Obio-Akpor local government areas. At Abonnema in Akuku-Toru as at  9am some people started voting. So far ,it is been peaceful even INEC staff are set, voters are merely trickling into polling units.

There are signs of Voter apathy in Abonnema, but peaceful and calm in right polling units visited. Voters expressed happiness that materials arrived early and they are voting. On Saturday morning, Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru  local government, remained calm as at 9 am.

Recall that Abonnema was where three Soldiers, including a Lieutenant were killed and some persons died during and after the Presidential elections.

Amidst fear and chocked presence of security drawn from the military ,the Police, Department of State Security and Civil Defence, Police,Polling Units have  opened in Rivers State this morning.
Pre-election dawn violence has already claimed one life at Akinima, Ahoada West local government, when suspected thugs allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Registration Area Centre, RAC, and reportedly stabbed one youth to death.
An eye witness said the thugs had invaded the INEC office at Akinima barring political party agents from gaining access to the facility.
On Friday night  residents of some local government areas of the influx of persons dressed in military uniforms but suspected to be members of the Neighbourhood Watch, an armed state sponsored security outfit established by Governor Nyesom Wike.
Early Saturday morning, it was learnt that some gunmen had laid siege on the home of Dr. Gift Okere, a leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyigbo local government.

Rivers State, Voting

Rivers State.Voting kicks off

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Elections have started in Rumuagholu in Obio-Akpor local government areas.At Abonnema in Akuku-Toru as at 9am some people started voting.So far ,it has been peaceful even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff were set, voters are merely trickling into polling units.

There were signs of Voter apathy in Abonnema, but it has been peaceful and calm in eight polling units visited. Voters expressed happiness that materials arrived early and they are voting

On Saturday morning, Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru local government, remained calm as at 9 am.

Recall that Abonnema was where three Soldiers, including a Lieutenant were killed and some persns died during and after the Presidential elections.

Amidst fear and chocked presence of security drawn from the military ,the Police, Department of State Security and Civil Defence, Police,Polling Units have opened in Rivers State this morning.

Pre-election dawn violence has already claimed one life at Akinima, Ahoada West local government, when suspected thugs allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Registration Area Centre, RAC, and reportedly stabbed one youth to death.

An eye witness said the thugs had invaded the INEC office at Akinima barring political party agents from gaining access to the facility.

On Friday night residents of some local government areas of the influx of persons dressed in military uniforms but suspected to be members of the Neighbourhood Watch, an armed state sponsored security outfit established by Governor Nyesom Wike.

Early Saturday morning, it was learnt that some gunmen had laid siege on the home of Dr. Gift Okere, a leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyigbo local government.

Noticeably, Soldiers,Civil Defence and armed Policemen in strategic road junctions like,Rumuokoro,Waterlines, INEC office on Aba road choked Rumuokuta Junction,Eliozu,Garrison Junction and Ikokwu area.

A drive from Port Harcourt Township to Rumuosi and NTA Mgbuoba boys and men of voting age were seen playing football in main roads.

Eleme,in Eleme local government elections materials left Registered Area Centre,RAC,at 8am.Elections started at about about 9am.There are Card Readers are having issues.

Voter are less in numbers, compared with Presidential election.

Okrika in Okrika local government Electoral materials left at the RAC centres at 8am. Despite curfew because of the disturbances that happened a few days ago when the Palace of King Ateke Tom and Guest House was allegedly raided by people in Army uniform.

In Ward 6 where materials were hijacked in Presidential election, voting started at about 9 am.

Less security compared to time of Presidential election.

Noticeably, Soldiers,Civil Defence and armed Policemen in strategic road junctions like,Rumuokoro,Waterlines, INEC office on Aba road choked Rumuokuta Junction,Eliozu,Garrison Junction and Ikokwu area.
A drive from Port Harcourt Township to Rumuosi and NTA Mgbuoba boys and men of voting age were seen playing football in main roads.

Eleme,in Eleme local government elections materials left Registered Area Centre,RAC,at 8am.Elections started at about about 9am.There are Card Readers are having issues.
Voter are less in numbers, compared with Presidential election.
Okrika in Okrika local government Electoral materials left at the RAC centres at 8am. Despite curfew because of the disturbances that happened a few days ago when the Palace of King Ateke Tom and Guest House was allegedly raided by people in Army uniform.
In Ward 6 where materials were hijacked in Presidential election, voting started at about 9 am.
Less security compared to time of Presidential election.


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