Polling in the rerun elections in Rivers State in virtually all the parts of the state started quite late due to a late arrival of materials and personnel at polling units.
But the situation before 11am was generally peaceful with security personnel taking charge in every quarter of the state.
At Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, the number of police personnel assigned to the single polling unit was obviously overloaded as dozens of policemen and women had to while away time at the local stadium far away from the voting unit. Some of them who said they were brought in from Lagos confessed not to even know where polling was taking place.
One policeman reeking of alcohol was seen begging for alms at Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, while voters were waiting for the arrival of materials. He told the magazine that he had not received an alert for his deployment for the election.
Tam-George, Rivers State Commissioner for Information alleged that an attempt was made by military personnel to hijack the materials for Okrika Local Government Area. Materials for the LGA were however seen being delivered to the polling untied at about 10.00am.
At Alode, Eleme Local government Area, which was tense data to the election,military personnel escorted materials from unit to unit at 11am.
Materials to other wards in the LGA were also shared out about the same time.
In Omuma, there was an allegation that an APC chieftain had hijacked materials for one of the wards to an unknown destination.
Voting started early at Biera, Gokana LGA, home of APC senatorial candidate, Magnus Abe.
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