Again, Wike Refuses To Vote At Council Polls

As Apathy, Shooting, Violence Mar Election

THE Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has again failed to cast his vote at the local Government election in his home, Obio/ Akpor Ward 9, Unit 7.

This is the second time Wike failed to participate in local council election. In the 2018 Local government elections, which brought the outgoing chairman and his ward counsellor into power, he reportedly shunned the exercise. Journalists had arrived the g o v e r n o r ’ s home Rumupirikom Polling Unit in Obio Akpor Local Government Area as early as 8am to witness him cast his vote, and perhaps respond to the widespread voter apathy that characterised the election.

Sadly, Wike failed to turn up during the voting exercise that lasted for about four hours.

It was gathered that the Social Democratic Party ( SDP) councillorship candidate in Apani Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hope Amadi, was beaten and chased into the bush.

Also, at Opobo/ Nkoro LGA, hoodlums reportedly attacked the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Councillorship candidate in Ward 7, Tumini Jaja.

The election equally witnessed sporadic shootings and snatching of ballot boxes. The shooting was reported at Ward 8, Bomu town, in Gokana Local Government Area.

Among the 17 political parties on the ballot box, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) was not on the ballot, as it opted out of the election, due to a lingering court case on the LG poll it conducted in 2015.

Some voters described the election as a ‘ town hall’ meeting, where PDP is expected to have a field day.

As at 8.30, few persons were sighted at Ward 6, Unit 20 Oginigba, Ward 11, Unit 1, Rumueme Obio/ Akpor Local Council and other centres in Port Harcourt and Ikwere Local Government Area.