Port Harcourt – Voters in Ward 8, Unit 1, Rumuomasi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area have defied an afternoon downpour to perform their civil responsibility.
The rain which started at 2.10pm drenched some voters who came for the re-run legislative election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unit was situated at the state Primary School, Rumuomasi and has been one of the volatile areas during election.
The security agents, in the efforts to avert any unpalatable situation, only opened one of the gates into the school where they conducted No Voters, Card No Entry.
NAN reports that this made many youths to hang around streets outside the school fences where gun shots were heard occasionally as the rain was on.
Security agents’ organisation of the unit made the eligible voters to be coming in one after the other even while it was the raining.
One of the security men who did not want his name mentioned, said that the way the voters were organised was the only way to avert undesirable situation.
”You know this ward has a history of gun shooting and snatching of election sensitive materials; we can’t afford to allow such in this election.
”You see many youths outside the fence, most of them do not have voters card and still they came out en masse.
”What did they come out for when they know they don’t have the requirement to vote; just to cause chaos,” he said.
Meanwhile, agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 8 Unit 1, Rumumasi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers, have commended INEC for the peaceful re-run election in the area.
The agents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the polling unit, said that INEC had proved its readiness to conduct a free and fair election in the area.
A PDP agent, Mr Tonye Avery, said that the card readers were active, adding that they had not failed any voter so far in the exercise.
“Imagine the materials arriving as early as 7 a.m. at the unit and voting commencing without hitches at 8 a.m.
“The card readers worked very well without developing any fault. It is quite commendable.”
Avery said that election at the unit was very peaceful, adding that security agents were also doing their work effectively.
Also speaking, Mr Luke Chuku of APC, commended INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election and the cooperation exhibited by security personnel in the area.
