Heavy Rains, Low Turnout Mar Rivers Council Election

in Port Harcourt The heavy downpour which hit most parts of Rivers State yesterday morning may have been responsible for the low voter turn-out which trailed the controversial local government elections which held in 22 of the 23 local government areas of the state.

The rains began at about 8.30am, about 30 minutes to the start of accreditation, and lasted till about 11 am in Port Harcourt and its environs. However, when the rains subsided, most people were seen going about their private business instead of going to the polling stations.

Some people who spoke to THISDAY on the elections said they were discouraged from participating in the election because of the controversy which trailed the announcement of the date of the poll by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Emeka Obiakor, a resident of Nsukka Street, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt said, “I don’t want to waste my vote. After all, a new governor will come in six days and he will cancel the election since his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has boycotted the election.”