The people of Rivers State trooped out today to elect their local government leaders in an election spanning all 23 local government areas, 319 wards, and 6,866 polling units. The polls are the first since the Supreme Court voided the October 2024 council elections previously organized by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Security agencies are leaving nothing to chance. On Friday, a major security show of force swept through Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor. The convoy, led by the Nigerian Police Force, included the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other sister agencies.

Rivers Police Commissioner, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured citizens that safety had been prioritized:

“We have put adequate arrangements in place to secure lives and property before, during, and after the elections. Our personnel and logistics deployment will ensure a free, safe, and credible exercise.”

RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, also encouraged turnout, pledging prompt delivery of voting materials, even in hard-to-reach communities.

“With the cooperation of the police and sister agencies, adequate security has been guaranteed,” he noted.

A statewide restriction of movement, running from midnight until 6 a.m., has been enforced to forestall any form of disruption.

The political atmosphere in Rivers remains tense, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) currently serving as sole administrator after Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy were suspended in March following clashes linked to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

Frontpagenews.ng reports that political stakeholders see this poll as pivotal, potentially setting the tone for the state’s 2027 governorship race.

At press time, voters were casting their ballots under the close watch of security personnel across several polling units.