The Rivers State local government elections on Saturday were characterized by low voter turnout in Port Harcourt, despite near-total compliance with restrictions on movement.
Across several areas of the state capital, residents were seen engaging in street football and environmental sanitation rather than heading to polling units. Many attributed their absence to a lack of confidence in the electoral process.
At Echue, a resident told our correspondent that voting was “meaningless” as the outcome of the polls had already been predetermined. Another added that he only uses his Permanent Voter Card (PVC) for banking purposes, insisting elections in Nigeria are neither free nor fair.
In Ward 15, Echue Street, one polling unit reportedly recorded just a single vote.
Although voting has ended, collation of results was still ongoing at press time, with the official announcement yet to be made.
