Protesters storm Rivers electoral commission, chant songs amid heavy rainfall (Video)

Angry protesters on Friday stormed the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), singing and chanting ‘Election must hold’.

They defied the heavy rainfall spreading canopies, while singing and drumming, with one side of the road blocked.

The protest came after the Rivers State governor stormed the RSIEC in the early hours of Friday to stop the Rivers State Police Command from taking control of the premises.

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Expressing his anger over plans of the Rivers State Police Command to stop the voting exercise on Saturday, said “Keep your security, I do not need it. It happened in Anambra State. This election must hold on Saturday. The result will be declared, the winners will be sworn in.”

Recall that Security operatives in the state at wee hours on Friday, foiled an attempt by men dressed in police uniform to take over the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

It was gathered that the miscreants attempted to scale through the gates and strong room of the commission to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.

A source who witnessed the incident but was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “The move was botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has instructed its commanders to enforce a Federal High Court’s ruling against the upcoming local government elections scheduled for tomorrow in Rivers State.

In a statement issued by the State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, the police recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja, on July 19, 2024, issued a restraining order preventing the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from providing security during the election.

The police emphasized that they had been advised by their Force Legal Department to adhere to the September 30, 2024, court judgment, which prohibited their involvement in the local government election scheduled for October 5, 2024, in Rivers State.

Protest at Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)

Rivers Wike Fubara Nigerian Police Reno

Credit: (Channels TV) pic.twitter.com/SF5h63dzQs

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