In a brazen attempt to disrupt the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State, a group of men dressed in police uniforms tried to break into the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) early Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 1 am, with the inteuders attempting to scale the gates and strong room to cart away sensitive electoral materials.
A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that vigilant security officials quickly alerted principal officers of the commission and government authorities, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“The move was botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development,” the source said.
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Governor Fubara swiftly responded, leading a team of government officials, lawmakers, and stakeholders to the scene.
Addressing journalists in front of the RSIEC office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Fubara condemned the incident and praised the security personnel for their alertness.
“This is unacceptable,” Fubara said. “Local government elections are the internal affairs of states, and those trying to truncate the process and cause anarchy in the state should allow the federation unit to conduct its affairs without interference.”
The incident raises concerns about potential election interference and the integrity of the electoral process. With the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, authorities must remain vigilant to prevent further attempts to disrupt the democratic process.
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