TELL Magazine

From P/Harcourt
The turnout of voters in most parts of Rivers State is generally high. But there were delays in the take-off of voting exercise. In Khana Local Government Area, some polling units have not received materials as at 9.15am. Markets are open while filling stations are attending to customers Bori. But there was a scuffle between party supporters in Buan Yeghe near Bori. Materials in neighbouring Gokana Local Government Area have been delivered to the polling units. In Bonny, it was raining heavily and there’s tension as there are allegations of fake result sheets. Materials had not left the Local Government office to the wards as at 9.50am.In Okrika, materials for wards 6,7,8 and 9 were escorted away by military personnel. Chairman of the local government, Mr. Kingoli alleged that the materials were being diverted and he was calling for the cancellation for those wards. At Abua/Odual Local Government Area, materials started leaving for the RAC centres at 9.50am. People are asking to see the results sheets. At Ward 10, Unit 9, polling officers were just setting up materials while voters were waiting as at 9.44am.The story at Wards 4 and 5 in Port Harcourt Local Government Area was that as at 9.50am nothing has happened. One elderly woman who said she had waited for two hours had threatened to go home because she could no longer stand on her feet. No sitting arrangements made for voters. In Ikwerre Local Government Area, there are complaints of card readers not working at Apani Ward. But voting had started at 9 am at Ward 1, Unit 3, where turnout is large. In Eleme, materials had been moved to the RACs and accreditation was just starting in Ward 10, Aleto. However, gunshots were heard in Alode.In Degema, sensitive materials were still being expected at 9.30. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obot Effanga, said materials were deployed to all the local government areas but it’s only in areas where there was security concern that materials had not been moved.