Protest Rocks Rivers PDP Secretariat Over Voter Register Delays

A large group of protesters stormed the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, raising concerns over the distribution of the 2023 Voter Register just two days before the scheduled Local Government elections on October 5, 2024.

The protest prompted a swift response from security forces to manage the crowd and alleviate traffic disruptions in the area.

The unrest stems from frustrations surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) postponement of the voters’ register distribution to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

This delay follows a recent Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which barred INEC from handing over the register due to ongoing legal disputes.

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Despite this legal setback, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has maintained that the elections will proceed as planned.

He cited a Supreme Court ruling mandating all states to conduct elections for local government positions.

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In a statewide address, Fubara declared October 3 and 4 as public holidays to allow residents to prepare for the elections.

He stressed the importance of upholding constitutional mandates and ensuring democratic governance, stating that any failure to hold the elections would contradict the Supreme Court’s directive against governing local councils with unelected officials.

Additionally, Fubara announced restrictions on vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4, until 5 PM on Election Day to facilitate a smooth electoral process.