Heavily‑armed policemen blocked the entrance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday after a protest by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members. More than 1,000 party members and supporters stormed the INEC office on Aba Road, demanding that the commission allow a joint inspection of election materials by all political parties ahead of the election petitions tribunal. Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps operatives stationed patrol vehicles in front of the office to prevent damage to the facility.
The protest paralyzed vehicular traffic from the Waterlines area to the GRA area of Aba Road. Demonstrators marched along the road holding placards with slogans such as “Police have no power under the Electoral Act to declare results. We will resist it,” and “The joint inspection of materials is our right. We are ready.” As a result, commuters were forced to travel long distances, while commercial vehicles and private cars took detours.
Dr. Samhel Nwanosike, chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, said the inspection must involve all parties. “We are putting other political parties on notice. Rivers people have decided to keep watch on this INEC headquarters. We are aware that results have been uploaded in IREV at over 95 percent and that the Certified True Copies of all the polling unit result sheets are in INEC. Like they did in 2019, when policemen wrote different result sheets to smuggle into INEC offices—never again will it happen. We will not leave this place; we will be here every day until the right thing is done,” he declared. He added, “It must be a joint inspection because a man who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Inspection must be done jointly so we watch each other. We have won election and the world has seen it, and we will defend it with our blood.”
Last Friday, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Tonye Cole led a protest to the INEC office demanding the release of Certified True Copy documents from the March 18 election. The situation has heightened tension in the metropolis, with fears that the ruling PDP and the main opposition APC may clash soon.
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