Photos: Supporters of Wike Protest Ongoing Rivers Local Government Elections
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On Saturday, supporters of Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), staged a protest in Port Harcourt. The demonstrators urged the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to respect a recent High Court ruling regarding the local government elections.
The protest, which attracted a large turnout, was organized in response to perceived irregularities in the election process. Protesters carried placards with slogans like “Obey Court Order” and “No Justice, No Election,” expressing frustration with RSIEC’s decision to proceed with the polls despite the court’s ruling.
A recent Rivers State High Court judgment had ordered the suspension of the elections due to procedural issues. Wike’s supporters, citing this ruling, demanded that RSIEC halt the election process.
Despite the court order, RSIEC moved forward with the elections, prompting protests from Wike’s loyalists.
Background on the Crisis
The ongoing conflict over the local elections is between the political factions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Chief Nyesom Wike. Both camps are vying for control of the state’s political structure.
While the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supports the election, the Rivers State chapter, which is aligned with Wike, has urged residents and party members to boycott the process.
The police, referencing court orders, announced that they would not provide security for the elections and encouraged other security agencies to follow suit. However, Governor Fubara criticized the police for their stance and insisted that the elections would proceed. RSIEC also reaffirmed its intention to conduct the elections despite the court ruling.
Court Ruling and Governor’s Response
Addressing the court ruling being cited by the protesters, Governor Fubara pointed out that the Rivers State Government and RSIEC had a separate judgment, which allowed the election to proceed using the 2023 voter register. He emphasized that this judgment also called for security support from agencies like the police, DSS, and the Nigerian Army.
Fubara questioned whether any court could override the Supreme Court’s decision, which governs the proper constitution of elected local government councils in the state.
Explosion at APC Secretariat
Tensions escalated further on Saturday morning when reports emerged of an explosion at the Rivers State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The incident, believed to be caused by dynamites, damaged the main gate, security post, and parts of the building.
Chief Tony Okocha, chairman of the APC faction’s caretaker committee, accused supporters of Governor Fubara of being behind the attack. In a message, Okocha claimed that pro-Fubara groups had attempted to set fire to the building, but security personnel managed to prevent further damage.
Below are the pictures