Rivers: Lateness of officials, materials characterise council polls

Saturday’s Local Government elections in Rivers State was characterised by late arrival of electoral officers and materials across the state, the News Agency of Nigeriareports.

Although turnout of voters was unimpressive, materials and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission officials did not get to the polling stations until about 11 am

At 11.05 am, the officials were seen setting up tables and arranging the materials for the exercise at Units 2, 10, 11, 13 and 14 of Ward 2 in Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

The situation was the same at Governor Nyesom Wike’s Unit 7, Ward 9, Rumuprikon, and in Units 2, 4, 5, 19 and 26 in Ward 10, also in Obio Akpor.

Mr Peter Chukwuemezu, Labour Party agent for Unit 19, Ward 10 said the situation was frustrating and a sign of insincerity in the process, adding that nobody had given a reason for the delay.

A voter in the unit, Mr Udom Ekporimo, told NAN that he and some other voters had been waiting since 8 am. and that only policemen deployed in the unit joined them later.

A Peoples Democratic Party leader in Unit 26, Mr Lucky Nkoro, decried the late commencement of the election and attributed it to the delayed sorting of materials at the council’s headquarters.

Similarly, a voter, at Ward 14, Ogbunabali, Mrs Ann Chukwu, said it had been a case of the electorate waiting for the election officials to report for duty.

She told NAN that the delay may not be unconnected to inadequacies in the distribution of materials to the wards and units.

Earlier at Ward 10, Mile 4 area of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, some voters were seen waiting patiently for RSIEC officials and materials as of 10.50 am.

(NAN)