By Meletus EZE
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the by-election for the Port Harcourt Constituency lll State Assembly seat held August 18 in the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Mr Obo Effanga, who announced the suspension in a terse statement on Saturday night, cited widespread violence as reasons for the suspension.
The bye-election was conducted by INEC to fill the vacancy left by former state lawmaker, Mr Victor Ihunwo, now Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
Effanga stated that because the exercise was marred by widespread violence, it was suspended in accordance with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010.
“INEC has decided to suspend the election forthwith,’’ he said
He did not give a new date for the by-election.
Suspected hoodlums accused of working for one of the major political parties attacked election officials in an attempt to hijack election materials.
Mr Gbekwele Chidi, a voter and witness, said the attack took place at Nkpolu-Oroworokwu community.
The incident took place specifically at Obiri Okah, Ward 10, Polling Units 023 & 024 in Nkpolu-Oroworukwu community.
Chidi said trouble started when suspected political thugs, who attempted to force their way into the centre, were stopped by some unarmed police personnel at the polling units manned by INEC personnel.
“So, after the police refused them entry into the centre; the thugs resorted to throwing stones and bottles at the police personnel,” he said.
He said the hoodlums, thereafter, started firing gunshots into the air apparently to frighten and intimidate voters and the unarmed police personnel.
“Later, some armed policemen in their vans arrived the scene and started shooting and firing teargas to disperse the rampaging thugs.
“After dispersing the hoodlums, the police then took the election materials, INEC officials and NYSC members to their station,” Chidi said.
Chichi Agbamoro, a Principal Administration Officer of INEC, Abuja office, also confirmed the incident. He said thugs attacked INEC officials and voters at Ward 10, Units 30, 206 and 207 at Nkpolu-Oroworokwu Town Hall.
Agbamoro, who claimed to have witnessed the attack, said that the hoodlums came to the polling units armed with guns, machetes and bottles.
“When they arrived, they started shooting and thereafter snatched the election materials to unknown destination,” she said.
The bye-election was largely peaceful at Ejiegbu 2 Ward 10, unit 44 and Mgbundukwu Ward 15, Unit 3, Polling Units 001, 006 and 007.
There was large turnout of voters with presence of unarmed police personnel and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the centres.
Bright Fabian, one of the APC party agents at Ward 15, praised INEC for the early arrival of election materials to the centre.
“This is the most peaceful ward because there has not been any case of violence. Voters and party agents have been peaceful and orderly,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the violence, said the state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, was leading a team to the affected wards.
Meanwhile, suspected hoodlums mobbed a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), covering the election.
Chief correspondent John Amieyeofori recounted that thugs descended on him at an INEC registration centre in Port Harcourt, hitting him and taking his money and other valuables.
“When the thugs approached me, one of them grabbed my shirt and started hitting me.
“The thug then tore my shirt into shreds and dispossessed me of some money and other valuables I had on me,’’ Amieyeofori stated.
“As if that was not enough, the thug attempted to use his dagger on me but miraculously missed on several attempts.
“I have never witnessed such vicious and unprovoked attack in my many years of monitoring elections,” he said
Amieyeofori, who said that he did not sustain life-threatening injury, wondered why anyone would want to harm a journalist performing his civic duty.
The visibly traumatised reporter is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Port Harcourt.
