JUST IN: Protesters storm Rivers electoral commission, insist election must hold

Angry protesters on Friday stormed the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, 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.

 

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.

 

The incident reportedly occurred around 1 am on Friday (today).

 

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.”

 

Also recall that the police, citing a Federal High Court ruling, announced the withdrawal of their personnel from the election, scheduled for Saturday.

 

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