Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State protested against the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. Demonstrators voiced concerns over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) plans to proceed despite a court ruling barring such actions and the delay in releasing the voter register.
In Rivers State, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) organized a significant protest against the impending local government elections set for October 5, 2024. The demonstration saw hundreds of protesters marching through the streets of Port Harcourt, with heavy police presence to maintain order.
They began their march at the PDP secretariat, carrying placards with slogans like "RSIEC obey court order" and "Say no to impunity." The protesters voiced their concerns over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) proceeding with the elections despite a court ruling prohibiting such actions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not yet released the 2023 Voter Register to RSIEC, citing administrative reasons and a court judgment from Abuja as the cause of the delay. A key figure in the protest, PDP stakeholder Aron Chukwuemeka, emphasized the group's stance against the elections, arguing that the security forces, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, should respect the court ruling and refrain from providing security for the elections.
Additionally, Chief Tony Okocha of the APC indicated that his faction would also not participate, criticizing the governor for disregarding legal procedures by calling the election within a 30-day window instead of the required 90 days. The protests underscore the rising tension and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections in the state.
