BREAKING: Police Chase Voters in Port Harcourt, Video Emerges

BREAKING: Police Chase Voters in Port Harcourt, Video Emerges

  • Police in Rivers have been alleged to have disrupted local government elections in Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City LG
  • According to the report, the security operatives arrived in 21 Hilux patrol vans and fired teargas to scatter voters and officials of the RSIEC
  • It was also alleged that the heavily armed police officers ordered the RSIEC to remove their vests and vacate the venue

Chaos erupted at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City local government area as Nigerian Police operatives arrived in 21 Hilux patrol vans, firing teargas and scattering voters and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) officials.

Heavily armed policemen, some masked, ordered RSIEC officials to remove their vests and leave the venue, disrupting accreditation in Ward 19.

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The police has been accused of disrupting local government election in Port Harcourt city
Police allegedly disrupted the election in Port Harcourt Photo Credit: @SimFubaraKSC, @PoliceNG
Source: Twitter

Eyewitnesses described the scene as panicked, with teargas canisters fired directly into the crowd, causing residents to flee in confusion.

Electoral officers, voters run in Port Harcourt

Many RSIEC officials, voters, and residents ran into nearby Boms streets, creating tension in the area.

When contacted, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, claimed unawareness of the incident, saying, "I'm not aware. You are just telling me now."

The sudden police intervention raises concerns about electoral interference and the integrity of the local government elections in Rivers State.

Tension in Rivers election

Rivers State has been experiencing tension ahead of its local government elections due to multiple court injunctions challenging the process. Initially, the police announced their withdrawal from the election following a court judgment. However, in a surprising turn of events, police personnel were spotted providing security for voters on Saturday morning, contradicting their earlier statement.

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BREAKING: Rivers LG election turns chaotic as unidentified individuals fire gunshots, details emerge

The election controversy is largely seen as a power struggle between current Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The two have been at odds since Fubara took office, with their latest disagreement centering on the leadership structure of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

This development highlights the complex political dynamics in Rivers State, with the election outcome potentially impacting the balance of power between Fubara and Wike's factions.

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Jonathan warns Wike, Fubara

Legit.ng earlier reported that Goodluck Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria, has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to exercise caution over local government election in the state.

The former president also called on the National Judicial Commission to address the conflict of judgment emerging on the election.

Jonathan maintained that Rivers is the gateway to the Niger Delta region while describing the political upheavals in the region to that of the old western region.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Bada Yusuf avatar

Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with 7 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop, Journalism AI Discovery. He previously worked as Editor with OperaNews. Legit’s Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023). Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng