Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Protests broke out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat on Thursday as tensions escalated in the lead-up to the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
A large crowd of demonstrators gathered at the party’s headquarters, prompting security forces to intervene to control the situation and manage traffic congestion in the area, according to reports from Channels Television.
The unrest is linked to rising frustrations over the delay in the release of the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Concerns have grown following a recent court ruling that has complicated the situation.
On September 30, 2024, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling barring INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC due to ongoing legal challenges. Despite this setback, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has asserted that the local government elections will proceed as scheduled.
Fubara pointed to a Supreme Court ruling that mandates all states to have democratically elected local government executives, reinforcing his commitment to holding the election on time.
As the election date approaches, the situation remains fluid, with both supporters and critics of the PDP closely watching developments.
