Explosives shattered the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt on Saturday as the Rivers State local council elections took place.
Residents suspect the explosion, which destroyed gates, doors, windows, and other properties at the secretariat, may have been caused by dynamite, according to reports by Punch. This marks the second time such an attack has occurred at the APC secretariat in 2024.
The local government election has drawn significant public attention due to conflicting court rulings. The Rivers State High Court ordered the election to proceed without restrictions, while the Federal High Court in Abuja directed the police to withdraw their participation in the election.
In the early hours of Friday, the Rivers State government claimed that Governor Sim Fubara thwarted an alleged attempt by police officers to remove sensitive election materials, a charge the police denied. The police had already withdrawn from providing security for the election, but Governor Fubara assured the public that other security agencies would step in to ensure voter safety.
“We strongly believe that other security agencies are participating and will provide the necessary security coverage for the voters,” Governor Fubara said.
He further accused Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of taking directives from Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and claimed their relationship had become personal rather than professional.
In response, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer, issued a statement on Friday evening, clarifying that police deployment was solely for security purposes in light of rising tensions and potential threats. He explained that officers had been sent from the Rivers State Government House to support the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) but were replaced with personnel from the Command Operations Department to provide overnight security for the election.
