NIGERIA: Voting Begins In Rivers LG As Poll Faces Low Turnout

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Rivers State local government council elections on Saturday were marked by a late arrival of materials and low voter turnout in several polling units, even as some parts of Port Harcourt witnessed unusual calm.

In Woji Ward 6, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, election materials were yet to arrive as of 10:12 a.m. at Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 29, and 30. Accreditation had not commenced, and only a handful of voters were seen waiting to cast their ballots.

Some voters and party agents were observed discussing the delay, while there was no visible presence of security personnel in the affected units.

Mr Kingsley Amadi, a voter at Polling Unit 29, said he arrived early but was still waiting for materials to arrive.

He expressed optimism that the process would remain smooth and transparent despite the setback.

Another voter, who identified herself simply as Oroma, said she was confident the exercise would reflect the will of the people.

Elsewhere in Port Harcourt, the ever-busy Slaughter area in the Trans Amadi industrial hub was deserted.

The Slaughter Road Interchange, a major corridor for trucks, oil and gas logistics, and commercial vehicles, was unusually quiet.

Children were also spotted playing football along Elekahia Road while electoral activities unfolded in other parts of the state.

Voting, however, was reported to be ongoing in Ward 11, Units 12 to 22, Barako Community, in Gokana Local Government Area.

In Port Harcourt City LGA, distribution of election materials for the chairmanship and councillorship polls commenced early, with party agents and ad hoc staff seen at a registration centre in Elekahia dispatching materials to polling units by 9 a.m.

The election is being conducted across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State amid tight security and varying levels of turnout in different communities.