POLICE Chase Voters, Electoral Officials In Rivers, Seize Ballot Papers- See Details
On Saturday, chaos erupted at Elekahia Primary School in the Port Harcourt City local government area during the Rivers State local elections when heavily armed police officers arrived in 21 Hilux patrol vehicles. The officers stormed the premises, causing panic among voters and officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). RSIEC officials were forcibly removed from the polling units, with police officers demanding they take off their vests and leave the area. Tear gas was fired into the crowd, creating further confusion and forcing people to flee.
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As the officers aggressively cleared the area, they seized several ballot papers and other election materials before departing the scene. Witnesses described the situation as chaotic, with both voters and officials running for their lives to escape the tear gas and the armed officers. Some police officers were masked, adding to the tension and fear among the community members present. One officer’ s voice was heard commanding the removal of RSIEC officials, which exacerbated the confusion.
The police’ s unexpected actions left the election process in disarray, and many voters were unable to cast their votes as planned. Residents of Elekahia, including bystanders and local officials, scattered through nearby streets in a bid to find safety, while the officers swiftly left the area, carrying the seized electoral materials.
The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the election process in the area, with many questioning the motivations behind the police intervention. No official statement had been released at the time by the authorities explaining why the police disrupted the electoral proceedings or seized the election materials.
The community has been left in a state of confusion and tension, as voters and RSIEC officials attempt to make sense of the police’ s actions. This sudden disruption at a critical moment of the election has cast doubt over the transparency and fairness of the local government elections in Rivers State.
This event underscores the importance of security forces in ensuring a peaceful electoral process, but it also raises questions when such actions lead to a direct interference with voters’ rights and the work of electoral officials. Many await further clarification from the police and relevant authorities on what transpired and why the elections at Elekahia Primary School were disrupted in such a dramatic fashion.
