For di early hours of Saturday, October 5, 2024, tension dey high for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as explosion rock di secretariat of di All Progressives Congress (APC) along Aba Road. Di explosion, wey be caused by dynamite, damage di main gate, security post, and some parts of di building. No casualties been reported, but di incident cause significant damage and fear among di people.
Di APC faction wey be led by Chief Tony Okocha accuse supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of being behind di attack. Okocha say, “At di wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonate dynamites at our office. Di second attempt to set it ablaze be foiled as di security at di gate quickly put out di fire.”
Dis incident happen on di same day wey Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conduct local government elections across di 23 local councils in Rivers State. Despite di legal battles and protests, RSIEC proceed with di elections based on a court order from Justice I.P.C. Igwe of di State High Court, which say di council polls align with di Nigerian Constitution.
However, another court order from Justice Peter Lifu of di Federal High Court in Abuja prohibit di elections, citing RSIEC’s failure to comply with essential electoral law requirements. Di confusion over court orders and di absence of di ruling PDP and a faction of APC from di elections add to di tension and uncertainty surrounding di polls.
Local youths also protest outside di RSIEC office, blocking access to di Port Harcourt-Aba expressway to safeguard di commission from potential disruptions to di elections. Meanwhile, di Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State support di conduct of di elections, emphasizing dat di Constitution of Nigeria sanctions local government elections and dat security agencies should maintain law and order.
