By Ezeocha Nzeh
The successful conduct of the controversial Rivers State Local Government election last Saturday 5th October, 2024 has demystified the long held view by mny Nigerians that elections in the country cannot be conducted without the presence of men of the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of Security Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security services including the Military.
Reacting to the outcome of the election which witnessed no fatality, political watchers and analysts were on the consensus that the election served as a litmus case for a free and fair election devoid of heavy security presence which they said often scare voters from coming out to cast their vote. They quickly made reference to the 2023 general elections as well as the recently held governorship lection in Edo state where many ot eh voters refused to perform their civic duties because of what they described as the “ militarization” of the state before and on the day of the election
Reports had it that voting went on peacefully in the 23 local government areas of Rivers state despite the police and DSS barring their officers from providing security for the exercise.
Election officials were seen conducting accreditation and voting simultaneously various polling units and wards in the state.
This was despite the attempt by supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike who while the election was going on, embarked on massive protests in an unsuccessful effort to stop the LG elections in the state.
However, there were reported incidents of explosions at the state secretariat of the factional APC led by Tony Okocha in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LG council.
Before the election, the APC in the state, which boycotted the polls, had secured a judgment from a Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the RSIEC.
The judgment also restrained the Director-General of the DSS and the Inspector General of Police from providing security for the elections.
But citing a judgment of the Supreme Court, which ordered that democratically-elected officials must govern all the local governments in the country and a judgment of the Rivers State High Court, Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara insisted that the elections must hold, with or without the police providing security.
Though the police did not provide security, the elections were held in a largely peaceful atmosphere.
Announcing the results on Saturday evening, the Chairman of the FRSC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, said after collating the results, APP scored the majority of the valid votes in all the wards in the 22 LGAs.
Justice Enebeli explained that the result of the chairmanship position for Etche LGA was stood down by the commission because of its expansive landscape with its 19 wards, which slowed down the collation process.
Justice Enebeli, who is also the Chief Electoral Commissioner for the election, declared the results in Port Harcourt.
The results declaration was witnessed by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) from 18 political parties, leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society groups, returning officers, journalists, and other key stakeholders.
Justice Enebeli stated that the polls, which closed at 3 p.m., witnessed a large turnout of voters who defiled the rain.
The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 out of the 23 chairmanship seats.
The Chairmanship Candidate of the Action Peoples Party APP, in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State for Local Government Council elections in the state, David Omereji, said the election was successful without police operatives.
Omereji also stated that no one can rigged the poll, adding that the people resolved to ensure peace and sanity.
Omereji, who spoke after casting his vote at his unit in Ward 11, Egbeda community, Emohua LGA, said the era of election rigging in the state has gone.
He described the process as seamless, free, fair and peaceful, adding that the election was successful without police.
Omereji said: “The election was peaceful and everybody voted without fear or intimidation. This is one peaceful and well-coordinated election conducted in the state.
“RSIEC has conducted a seamless election and we commend them for that. The election was peaceful without police. The people were sensitized to ensure Peace.
“Nobody will rig this election. The result will be as people voted. They have done a good job for the state.”