For Rivers State, the local government election wey suppose happen on Saturday, October 5, 2024, don turn to something else entirely. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, dey face plenty wahala as his ward and other areas dey experience heavy shooting and violence.
In Rumuepirikom community, wey be Wike’s home, heavy gunshots dey ring out as unidentified gunmen invade the area. These armed men come announce say nobody should come out for the election, and when electoral officers try to arrive, dem start shooting, scaring people away. At least one person don sustain bullet injury and dem rush am to hospital for treatment.
Another place wey dey experience similar thing be Igwuruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area. Youths wey claim say dem be Wike’s loyalists, come out to enforce a High Court judgment that bar INEC from releasing the 2023 voters register to RSIEC. Dem chase people back to their houses, insisting say the polls no go hold. This lead to clash with security operatives attached to a federal lawmaker, and two people sustain bullet wounds.
The tension and uncertainty for the election be high, with both APC and PDP, especially those loyal to Wike, boycotting the election due to lack of due process by RSIEC. The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, also condemn the court ruling that stop police from doing their duty, calling it an embarrassment to the rule of law.
The crisis within PDP also dey deepen as the party prepare for their NEC meeting on October 24, 2024. Governors, Atiku Abubakar, and Wike dey jostle for control of the party, with some governors pushing for the removal of the acting national chairman, Damagum, while others support him.
