At least one person sustained a gunshot injury following a clash between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Port Harcourt on Monday 3 April 2023.
Prior to the clash, some members of the PDP stormed the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a protest to demand a joint inspection of election materials by all political parties.
It was gathered that while the PDP protest continued, the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole accompanied by the State APC Chairman, Emeka Beke and other party leaders were sighted in an opposite direction proceeding to the INEC office.
On sighting them, angry protesting youths were said to have raced towards them, pelting them with stones and water sachets.
Cole’s security operatives were said to have immediately whisked him away from the scene as the protest continued.
Soldiers of the 6 Division, Nigeria’ Army, operatives of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rushed to the scene and shot into the air to disperse the protesters.
But it was gathered that one of the security men attached to Cole reportedly fired the stray bullet that hit one of the protesters, who later bled profusely and was carried to the hospital by sympathisers.
The anti-riot policemen, soldiers and NSCDC personnel were later seen performing a show of force with their patrol vans to forestall further attacks.
