Rivers rerun: Violence erupts as INEC suspends poll in 8 LGAs
- INEC suspends election in eight local government areas in Rivers due to irregularities
- INEC REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak says results deemed to be fair will be announced at later time
- Official results awaited in 15 out of the 23 local government areas.
Legit.ng brings you live coverage of the Rivers rerun election. Check out our coverage below.
The political arena in Rivers state is thickening as the March 19 legislative rerun elections takes centre stage today, March 19.
The election will see key political figures in the state slog it out for a place at the National Assembly, House of Representatives and state assembly.
Hours to the rerun elections, tension has been at high degrees. But security has been heightened as only just on Thursday, March 17, the Nigerian Army lost two of its men in a shootout with hoodlums in Abonemma area of the state.
However, all appears set for the exercise as all sensitive materials for the polls have been delivered at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt.
Sorting and distribution have been done at the different senatorial zones and constituencies in all 23 local government areas in the state and the INEC has recruited the services of 24,930 adhoc staff, 379 collation officers and 37 returning officers for the elections.
The rerun legislative election will be held in the three Senatorial Districts, 12 House of Representatives Seats and 22 of the 32 state assembly seats.
Accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously from 8am-2pm while collation of results at the polling unit will commence when the last voter on the queue has voted.
11.00pm: INEC has cancelled results in two more local government areas, Etche and Asaritoru local government areas of Rivers state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak said that the reason for the cancellation was due to irregularities at the affected local government areas of the state.
The electoral umpire further notes violence, snatching of ballot boxes, noncompliance to electoral law as part of the cancellation.
INEC says it is reviewing the rest of the process in the re-run polls
4.30pm: INEC REC says results on social media should be disregarded as only INEC or its designated officials can do so.
4.10pm: Voting gradually winding down across polling units as unofficial results trickle in. Legit.ng reporter on ground heads straight to INEC's office as we await the official results. Results are being expected in 19 out of the 23 local government areas.
3.52pm: INEC REC, Aniedi Ikoiwak says results deemed to be fair will be announced at later time.
3.35pm: Very low turnout at Rumuokuta Girls School ward 13 Obio Akpor. Counting of votes set to commence.
2.53pm: Persons caught in Bori, Khana local government area with fake police/military uniforms, cash and weapons.
2.37pm: Accreditation and voting has ended in Ward 16, polling units 001-006. Counting in progress
2.28pm: Counting of votes ongoing at the Anglican Cathedral Phalga LGA as accreditation and voting have been completed.
2.20pm: News reaching Legit.ng has it that INEC has postponed elections in Bonny, Gokhana, Khana, Andoni, Tai and Eleme LGAs due to irregularities. However voting and accreditation has ended in some polling units across the state. Counting to commence soon.
2.00pm: An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, one Mr Tambari Ntoti, has been reportedly shot dead in the course of the ongoing rerun election in rivers state. The deceased agent, Ntoti until his death was representing Nonwa In Tai Local Government Area, Ward 3.
Reacting to his death, the PDP said the killing of Ntoti was perpetrated by supporters of the All Progressives Congress.
1.43pm: A 14-seater bus has been burnt in Eleme local government area. Some residents blamed the action on some political thugs while others said that the violence was caused by some cultists from a neighboring community.
1.40pm: Sorting of Materials at Unit 5, ward 9, Ikwerre local government area is currently ongoing.
1.20pm: There are unconfirmed reports that buildings are being burned, vehicles trashed in Alode, Eleme LGA.
1.13pm: Three fake soldiers have been arrested in Ogoni.
1.00pm: Asari Dokubo live in Abalama but voting yet to commence.
12.56pm: In Phalga Ward 16 polling unit 002, card reader has been identified to have network issues, thus accreditation halted.
12.50pm: No polling officials or materials in Kono. Voters are waiting at designated polling units
12.45pm: Hrm King Ogbule Of Abua/Odual Casts his vote in his polling unit.
12.40pm: INEC refutes allegations of fake result sheets. A statement from INEC reads: "Attention of INEC has been drawn to allegations that Fake Result sheets are being deployed for election in Akuku-Toru, Tai & Bonny LGA’s. The Allegations are untrue and they should be discountenanced. Voters are advised to come out and Exercise their franchise peacefully. However, Result sheets with BAR CODES and Serial Number are valid. Remember: Voting starts & ends until the last person accredited has voted."
12.35pm Voting has commenced at polling unit 32/22/06/006 & 07 and voters turnout has been impressive. Accreditation and Voting also ongoing at polling unit 32/22/04/032, PH LGA. Security personnel present at both units.
12.30pm: Nigeria's Minister of transport Rotimi Amaechi cast his vote at unit 14, Ward 8, Ubima, in Ikwerre LGA.
12.20pm: Officials or election materials yet to arrive Ward 10, Gokana LGA. Voters waiting anxiously while election for House of Reps in Wards 16, 18 and 19, Obia/Akpor LGA has been stalled due to unavailability of materials.
12.17pm: INEC officials and election materials have arrived at polling unit 32/15/10/013, Obio/Akpor LGA
12.15pm: Governor Wike arrives at Obio Akpor Ward 9 Unit 7 amid tight security. He does his accreditation and cast his votes shortly after.
Wike said: “I am impressed with the security arrangement for the election.
“Most people have boycotted because of fake result sheets. “I think that INEC is not prepared for the election. If they are not ready, they shouldn’t be telling people that they are ready.”
12.oopm: Election materials yet to arrive polling unit 32/22/07/043, PH VII Ward, PH LGA.
11.53am: Election materials have not left Khana LGA but there is heavy security presence and many mini buses loaded with materials and agents.
11.45am: Protest ongoing in Nonwa (Tai) LGA. Young men no fewer than 100 in number are protesting non-arrival of materials. The army and police are managing the situation but another protesting crowd is marching some two kilometres away.
11.30am: In Eleme LGA, late arrival of materials and personnel have been reported. As a result election materials have been snatched as there is inadequate security. Political party agents are individually reviewing and countersigning tabulation sheets.
11.26am In polling unit 32/22/07/020, PH LGA, no election material or INEC officials have been reported and there is a low voters turnout.
11.20am: Reports in some quarters have it that sporadic shooting in Korokoro in Tai LGA is currently ongoing.
11.14am: Materials for Wards 15 and 16 just left the state Primary school Ozuoba to different units in Ozuoba, Rumukwachi, Ogbogoro and Rumukparale
11.10am No incident form at polling unit 32/23/05/001, Tai LGA and the card reader has reportedly stopped working.
11.08am: In polling unit 32/15/15/016 Choba, Obio/Akpor local government area, INEC officials have just arrived. Accreditation and voting to commence soon
11.05am: Ward 3, Unit 14 in Emohua LGA, materials have arrived and accreditation will soon commence.
11.00am: Senator George Sekibo casts his vote in Ward 2 , Ogu/Bolo local government area and speaks about the peaceful exercise in his unit. Also Hon. Evan checked for his name, accredited and voted peacefully in Ward 1 Unit 6, Ogu/Bolo local government area.
10.47am: In Andoni LGA, INEC has directed its agent and adhoc staff to return all materials to council secretariat due to protest from political parties as a result error in printing ( result sheet). As of now no election is taking place in Andoni local government area. The election has been suspended in the LGA.
10.40am: Accreditation and voting underway at Obio Akpor Ward 9 Unit 7. This is Governor Nyesom Wike's unit and heavy security presence have been reported around his father’s home, Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor LGA.
10.33am: Officials or election materials yet to arrive PU 32/09/04/004, Ebubu Ward, Eleme local government area while sensitive election materials not given to polling officials deployed to Phalga Ward 1 Units 8 - 10 and 15.
10.30am: Electoral materials yet to arrive all the polling units at Onne Ward, Eleme local government area but party agents and voters are present. INEC officials or election materials are also yet to arrive polling unit 32/12/13/007, Gokana local government area.
10.23am: Voting has commenced in OYIGBO LGA,unit 7, ward 7 and the senatorial booklet is 12*1230 per booklet, like wise House of reps booklet.
10.20am Accreditation and voting ongoing at PU 32/22/07/030, PH LGA. Heavy presence of security personnel.
10.10am: Destruction of result sheets by irritated mob at Bonny local government area has been observed. According to the mob, the result sheets were "fake".
09.57am: Voter turnout generally low across polling units as observed by Legit.ng's reporter on ground.
09.50am: Voting commences at Ward 3,Unit 3 OPOBO/NKORO LGA
09.45am: Voting in progress in Unit 1, Ward 3 Ahoada East local government area.
09.42am: Election aterials just arrived for units 2, 10 and 11, Ward 1, Omuma local government area.
09.40am: Peaceful accreditation and voting currently ongoing in polling unit 1, ward 6 Akuku-Toru local government area.
09.38am: Accreditation and voting has commenced at Polling units 32/22/02/013 - 019, Orogbum, Port Harcourt local government.
09.37am: Polling materials and officials just arrived at Phalga Ward 1 polling units 9 and 10.
09.35am: Election materials yet to be distributed at Obio Akpor Wards 9 - 11 (Rumueme). Heavy presence of the military at strategic points
09.32am: Accreditation and voting going on now at ward 1 polling unit 16, EMOHUA local government area.
09.32am: Election in progress in ward 1 unit 17, Emohua local government area.
09.30am: In polling unit 32/15/10/013, Obio/Akpor local government area, INEC officials are yet to arrive but security and party agents have arrived.
09.25am: Distribution of election materials also on-going in Omoku, ONELGA.
09.23am: Distribution of materials has commenced in Bori, Khana local government area
9.15am: Voting commences at Polling unit 004, Ward 1 Ikwerre local government area.
9.05am: Polling materials and officials have left the INEC Head quarter and have arrived at local government collation centres but yet to be distributed to most Polling units.
9.ooam: 12 House of Representatives Seats and 22 state assembly seats are also up for grabs.
8.44am: At polling unit 43/07 Port Harcourt local government area, INEC officials are yet to arrive but security and party agents are present. Election will be held in three Senatorial Districts.
8.ooam: Heavy military officers have arrived at the Port Harcourt for the rerun election.
Source: Legit.ng
