Protest rocks PDP secretariat over Rivers LG poll

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.

They were addressed by a DSS official before marching to the State Police Command Headquarters, chanting slogans of support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Among the chants were, “Under the rain, under the sun, we will follow Wike,” and “No election in Rivers State,” while their placards bore inscriptions such as “RSIEC obey court order,” “Rivers State is not lawless,” and “Police and Army must not support RSIEC.”

At the police headquarters, the crowd swelled, prompting police officials to invite the protest leaders for a brief meeting. Afterwards, the protesters dispersed, singing solidarity songs in support of Wike.

It would be recalled that the PDP faction loyal to Wike, alongside the Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress, had withdrawn from the October 5 poll, citing irregularities and lack of due process on the part of RSIEC.

However, the state APC faction led by Emeka Beke, loyal to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, handed over party flags to candidates in 22 local government areas, declaring readiness for the election.

Meanwhile, a fresh row has erupted between the Independent National Electoral Commission and RSIEC, with INEC denying claims by the state electoral body that it had released the 2023 voter register for the elections.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to enable voters to travel to their local government areas for the polls.

He reiterated that no amount of opposition or propaganda would stop the election from taking place.