Tension in the state of Rivers as the residents of the oil-rich state head to the polls to elect lawmakers at state and federal levels on Saturday, December 10, 2016.
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, won most of the seats during the 2015 elections. But almost all the elections were nullified at the elections petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal in 2015.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted rerun elections in March, 2016 but most of the elections were cancelled following reports of violence and hijacking of electoral materials, leaving many Rivers people without representation in at the federal and state houses.
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INEC refused to conduct the polls until the Nigerian Senate threatened to stop holding plenary sessions if the Rivers rerun polls were not held by December 10.
So, today the polls open. Ahead of the elections, the PDP and the APC have traded hot words with both parties accusing the other of plots to rig the election or unleash violence on the process.
Elections are to be conducted in 1,840 polling units in the 23 local government areas to fill 3 senatorial districts, 8 seats in the House of Representatives, and 10 in the state house of assembly.
The senatorial districts and federal constituencies are Akuku-Toru/Asari Toru; Degema/Bonny; Okrika/Ogu-Bolo; Etche/Omuma; Ikwere/Emohua; Khana Gokana; Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni.
The state constituencies where elections are to hold are Eleme, Gokana, Asari-Toru I, Asari-Toru II, Andoni, Khana II, Etche II, Ikwere, Bonny, and Degema.
We bring you live updates of the polls on this thread.
3.17pm More results show PDP leading. Click on any image to enlarge.
3.04pm WATCH: Hon. Adonye Diri leads the charge to apprehend riggers caught writing results inside the home of Chief Sam Sam-Jaja of the APC.
2.51pm Ikwerre Local Government Area
Ward 3 Unit 17,
Senate
PDP 24
APC 14
House of Rep
PDP 23
APC 13
Assembly
PDP 24
APC 13
2.47pm Asari Toru Local Government Area
Ward 8, unit 2 results
Senate: APC-4, PDP-28,
REPS: APC-4, PDP-28,
HOA: APC-5, PDP-27
2.40pm Chairman, Asari Toru Local Government Area , Engr Basoene Lolomari casting his votes.
Click on any image to enlarge.
2.20pm As at the end of voting in Unit 16, Ward 18 OF PHALGA, PDP emerged victorious.
Number Of Accredited Voters 141
APC = 30
PDP = 97
2.19pm First Results coming in as PDP wins in Omuma LGA, Ward 4, Unit 006. (courtesy United Rivers Reporters)
For Senate
APC 27
PDP 44
For Reps
APC 27
PDP 44
Omuma LGA, Ward 5, Unit 006
For Senate
APC 42
PDP 49
For Reps
APC 42
PDP 49
Omuma LGA, Ward 4, Unit 007
For Senate
APC 15
PDP 26
For Reps
APC 15
PDP 26
2.17 pm The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Felix Obuah has called for the immediate arrest of Mr. Derrick Mene, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the director of finance and administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over reported cases of hijack of electoral materials by Mr. Mene at Wiiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. Read More
1:55pm Materials for Ward 3, Andoni LGA hijacked by thugs and Federal SARS personnel loyal to APC Chieftain Samson Ngeribara. #RiversRerun.
1:32pm PM: Hoodlums loyal to the APC in Ogbakiri has hijacked electoral materials at Rumuoro, Ogbakiri, Emuoha LGA.
1.23pm Breaking: PDP in massive and comfortable lead in ASALGA. The area is calm as voters are very excited seeing peaceful elections.
1.20pm Breaking: Sporadic gunshots at Ward 3, Bodo, Gokana LGA. Precisely at St. Pius College. Sensitive electoral materials hijacked.
1.14 pm UPDATE: Aerial View and PHOTOS captured by the DRONE from ASALGA wards.
1.11 pm BREAKING: Drone 04 in Buguma has spotted a boat with five people heading to Ido community. Security agencies and community youth have been alerted now.
11.40am Hon Betty Okagua Apiafi is leading a protest to INEC office and JTF command. They alleged that materials have been carted away.
11:30am Election in Ward 9, Unit 3, Ogu/Bolo LGA has been canceled by INEC after hoodlums made away with the result sheets and a bitter disagreement between PDP and APC.
Dakuku Peterside, the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 Rivers state governorship election and the director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) claims that electoral materials meant for one ward in Opobo/Nkoro LGA was hijacked by thugs.
“Election for one unit was hijacked by some boys, but the security agencies have recovered it. That materials have arrived and it is going orderly for now,” he said.
11.17am Materials has arrived Ward 4 Ahoada-West under tight security.
There is confusion as PDP party agents have been arrested at PU32/15/12/022, Rumuigbo ward, Obio/Akpor LGA.
11:11am Electoral materials has just arrived in Ward 8, unit 14, Ubima, Ikwerre LGA.
10.40am Rivers government deploys drones to monitor election. The drones were deployed to prevent rigging of election.
Security agents are giving journalist a hard time as they are currently being harassed in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
10.35am Accreditation and voting is going on peacefully at Unit 7/8 all in Ward 4 OguBolo LGA.
Peaceful accreditation and voting in Unit 7/8 OguBolo LGA.
There is general calm in different parts of the state with huge security presence for the rerun election.
10.30am Materials and INEC officials are yet to arrive at any of the polling units in Opuoko/Kalaoko ward, Khana LGA.
Council Chairman urges for calm as materials are yet to arrive Eleme.
Voters waiting for election materials in Eleme
Report has it that there are no ballot boxes in PU32/11/13/012, Ulakwo ward, Etche LGA and voters are casting their votes into sack bags.
Voters casting vote in sack bag
Materials are also yet to reach Idama community, Akuku Toru LGA.
Over 30,000 security personnel comprising the police, army, navy and other para-military agencies have been positioned in 23 local councils where the re-run elections are taking place.
9.55am Materials are yet to reach Bori Ward, Khana LGA.
Accreditation and voting has commenced in Etche LGA,Umu-aka community, Ward 13, units 9, 12, 16, 13, 10, 14 and 6.
Voting has started in Bodocity Ward 3.
Voters begin casting their votes
Accreditation and voting have started in Worgu Estate unit 15 Rumuokoro, Ward 7 Obio/Akpor.
9am Election materials are yet to arrive at the three wards in Bodo city, Gokana local government area.
8.45am INEC officials arrived PU32/22/10/07/039, St. John Primary School, Port Harcourt. There was an argument over result sheet.
INEC officials tried to leave with result sheet but were accosted by party agents.
The Peoples Democratic Party has raised an alarm that 200 of its supporters and chieftains were arrested.
