Protests erupted at the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday 3 October 2024, as tensions rise ahead of the Local Government election scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The protesters, who arrived in large numbers at the party’s secretariat, forced security operatives to step in to control the crowd and manage traffic congestion in the area, reports Channels Television.
Channels Television’s correspondent at the scene reported the massive presence of security officers as the protesters had initially gathered in large numbers at the PDP secretariat.
As of the time of filing this report, the large number of protesters had caused slow movement of vehicles on the road, as security officers struggled to control the crowd.
The protesters were later seen carrying placards and banners, chanting songs in protest and running along the highway.
One of the displayed banners reads “TAI people say no to lawlessness. Say no to LGA election. RSIEC must obey court judgment. SIM must obey court judgement”.
This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to release the 2023 Voter Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Johnson Alalibo, who spoke at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said RSIEC had applied for the Register, but it was yet to be released to them because of administrative reasons.
The unrest follows growing concerns over the delay in the release of the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Commission (INEC) said it was yet to release the 2023 Voter Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Johnson Alalibo, who spoke at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said RSIEC had applied for the Register, but it was yet to be released to them because of administrative reasons.
Alalibo further confirmed that the Commission received the court judgement from Abuja barring the Commission from releasing the register.
The local government election is scheduled for October 5, 2024.
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