Protests broke out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday as tensions mount ahead of the Local Government elections set for October 5, 2024.
Large crowds gathered at the party’s headquarters, prompting security forces to intervene to manage the situation and alleviate traffic congestion in the area, as reported by Channels Television.
The demonstrations stem from frustrations regarding the delayed release of the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). On September 30, 2024, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling that prevented INEC from releasing the voters’ register due to ongoing legal disputes.
Despite the court’s decision, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has asserted that the elections will proceed as scheduled. He expressed confidence in the Supreme Court’s prior ruling, which mandates that all states must have democratically elected local government officials, reinforcing his stance on the electoral process.
