Security operatives in Rivers State, on Friday, foiled an attempt by men dressed in police uniform to take over the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1 am on Friday (today).
It was gathered that the miscreants attempted to scale through the gates and strong room of the commission to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.
A source who witnessed the incident but was not authorised to speak on the matter said: “The move was botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development.”
The source said the governor led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to the scene.
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Speaking to newsmen in front of the RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Fubara condemned the incident and commended the security men for their alertness.
Another Government House source said: “The governor said local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised those trying to truncate the process and cause anarchy in the state to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.”
Meanwhile, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State on Thursday took to the streets in protest against the planned local government elections, set to be conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission on October 5.
Led by the party’s state chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron, thousands of party loyalists marched through Port Harcourt, despite the heavy downpour, voicing their displeasure over the upcoming poll.
Notable party chieftains including the immediate past local government chairmen of Eleme, Gokana, Andoni, and Emuoha, Obarimate Ollor, Confidence Deko, Erastus Awortu, and Chidi Lloyd, respectively, were also at the forefront of the protest.
The protesters, brandishing placards, gathered at the PDP secretariat along Aba Road as early as 7 am before proceeding to the Department of State Services office along the Old GRA axis to lodge their complaint.
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