Polling Units have opened across Rivers State with election officials on hand. However, as at 8.00am when the Presidential and National Assembly elections officially commenced, some election officials had yet to arrive their duty points as some were sighted moving in vehicles o their designated areas.
Reports so far from different local government areas to The Neighbourhood Situation Room suggest a peaceful conduct so far despite alleged gunshots Friday night breaking Saturday. It not be confirmed whether the gunshots came from Nigerian security personnel on election duty or criminal elements.
So far in Okrika, with a history of political violence, the atmosphere remained peaceful by 7.5am as PUs waited to open. It could be recalled that in 2015, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was attacked twice and prevented from campaigning in the area by heavily-armed gunmen.
In Opobo/Nkoro local government where by 8.01am election materials were still moving to various units, it had remained largely peaceful.
In Kaani Ward 6, Khana local government, at about 7.58am, election officials were seen moving to their units.
In Eleme, PUs had opened though in some areas materials were still being awaited. The area remained calm Saturday morning since the Thursday reported attacks on APC members by alleged PDP supporters who reportedly inflicted heavy injuries on them. A source in Alode Ward 2 told The Neighbourhood that APC supporters carried out retaliatory attacks on Friday after which detachments of security personnel were mobilised to the area. “Eleme remains calm as security men took up positions since Friday”, the source said.
But the peaceful report is not the same in Bua-Yeghe, Gokana local government as violent clashes occurred between supporters of APC and PDP over disributionof Election materails. Ba-Yeghe is Ward 15 in Gokana, with 9 units.
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