Tension flared in Rivers State as police officers were accused of disrupting the collation process in the ongoing Local Government Area (LGA) elections. The incident, which occurred in Port Harcourt, left voters and election observers in shock after police reportedly carted away voting materials, halting the collation of results.
Eyewitnesses from various polling units in the city claim that security operatives stormed the collation centres, seizing ballot papers and other election materials, an action they described as unlawful and aimed at undermining the electoral process.
“We were peacefully waiting for the collation to be completed when suddenly, police officers arrived and took away the materials. No explanation was given,” said one voter at the scene. The voter further expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the process.
Election observers have raised alarms, demanding explanations from the authorities over the conduct of the police during the exercise. Many voters are now questioning the integrity of the elections, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies to investigate the incident and ensure that justice is served.
Local government elections in Rivers State have historically been fraught with tensions, and this latest incident adds to growing concerns about the fairness and credibility of the electoral process in the region.
