Rivers State Local Elections: RSIEC Declares Results Amid Explosions and Protests

The Chief Electoral Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Adolphus Enebeli, announced the results of the local elections in Port Harcourt on Saturday. However, the results for Etche Local Government Area were not declared, as collation is still ongoing. The RSIEC chairman stated that the results for the 319 councillorship seats, along with the Etche Chairmanship position, would be released once the collation is complete.

Despite challenges, Enebeli described the election as free, fair, and credible, with polling stations closing at 3 pm and a high voter turnout. He praised the patriotism of voters and thanked observers from various organizations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, who monitored the process.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the election results were declared at the Ministry of Justice Hall instead of RSIEC’s office on Aba Road. The state witnessed two explosions on election day, with one blast occurring near the APC Secretariat in the early hours, causing significant damage. Gunshots were also reported in parts of Port Harcourt, heightening tension during the election.

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had protested earlier in the week, demanding fair conduct of the election. Despite these tensions, Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted the election would go on and personally visited the RSIEC office to ensure it proceeded as planned.