In the early hours of today, a suspected dynamite explosion shook the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, causing significant damage to the building and its surroundings.
The blast destroyed the gate, shattered windows, and damaged other property at the facility. This is the second time this year the secretariat will be under attack.
The explosion comes as Rivers State prepares for its local government elections, scheduled for today.
On Friday, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) confirmed the distribution of sensitive materials to various local government areas in preparation for the polls.
In a video seen online, workers were assessing the extent of the damage at the APC secretariat.
When contacted by PUNCH, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, stated that she had yet to receive a formal report on the incident but would provide updates soon.
While the APC has yet to make an official statement, RSIEC remains adamant that the elections will proceed as planned.
Despite a recent Federal High Court ruling barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register for the local polls, RSIEC, in a statement late Friday, it was reaffirmed that all is set for the election.
Tobin Tamunotonye, RSIEC’s Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, emphasised that the October 5, 2024, elections would go ahead, dismissing rumours of the resignation of RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.).
The Chairman remains in charge, and the election will hold as scheduled, the statement clarified.
RSIEC also noted that non-sensitive materials and updated voter registers have been transported to the state’s 6,366 polling units.
Voting centres are expected to open on time for the election, deemed crucial by the commission.
West Africa Weekly earlier reported that Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had warned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and former governor turned FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, against the attempt to undermine the state’s local government election slated for Saturday, October 5, 2024.
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