In Rivers State, Nigeria, some traders and shop owners in the Obio/Akpor area defied a 12-hour no-movement directive imposed by the state government during local government council elections on Saturday. The restriction, which applied to all 23 Local Government Areas, aimed to ensure a smooth electoral process for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

Despite the order, several shops and roadside stalls were observed to be open, with traders attending to customers while the election was underway. The traders cited economic hardship and survival concerns as reasons for opening their businesses. Chinedu Okoro, a provision store owner, stated that he had no choice but to open his shop, as he has a family to support, including three children and a sick mother. “If I don’t sell today, we won’t eat,” he said.

Comfort Brown, a food stall operator, also opened her business early on Saturday to avoid losing perishable goods. She had purchased vegetables and meat the previous day, before being informed of the restriction, and could not afford to incur losses. Another trader, Miss Blessing, who sells fruits, decided to open for business due to the lack of power supply at home and the need to earn a living. She emphasized that she was not intent on causing trouble, but rather sought to earn a small income.

The defiance of the no-movement order highlights the economic challenges faced by many traders and shop owners in the state. The Rivers State government had imposed the restriction to prevent any disruptions to the electoral process. However, the traders’ decision to open their businesses underscores the need for the government to consider the economic implications of such directives on the citizens.

The local government council elections were held to fill chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State. The elections are a crucial aspect of Nigeria’s grassroots governance structure, and the state government’s efforts to ensure their smooth conduct are aimed at maintaining stability and order in the region. As the election process comes to a close, the state government will need to assess the effectiveness of the no-movement order and consider the concerns of traders and shop owners who were affected by the restriction.