The governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State on Saturday attracted a noticeably low voter turnout. This contrasted sharply with the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, which saw high participation from the opening of polls at 8 a.m. By 9:40 a.m., several polling units in the Woji, Elekahia, and Rumuomasi areas had not yet begun voting, and the number of people present at the stations that were open was far fewer than during the earlier national elections, despite the state having over 3.5 million registered voters.
In parts of Port Harcourt, the atmosphere was unusually relaxed; youths were seen playing football on the streets, and the city remained calm despite the presence of police, soldiers, and other security operatives. In Governor Nyesom Wike’s Ward 9, Unit 7A, voting had started, but the governor had not yet arrived to cast his ballot. The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, voted in Ward 4, Unit 10 (Jack‑White Compound) in Degema, while the Accord Party governorship candidate, Chief Lulu‑Briggs, cast his vote in Unit 1, Ward 4, also in Degema, Akuku‑Toru Local Government Area.
The low turnout may be linked to the political tension in the state, heightened by a recent show of force by the military and police on Friday. Additionally, reports of malpractice in certain areas have been cited as another factor contributing to voter apathy.
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