TENSION flared in Rivers State hours before the local government election in the state as an explosion rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Port Harcourt, in the early hours of Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Leadership Newspaper reported that some suspected arsonists detonated explosives at the secretariat of the main opposition political party in the state.
The blast caused significant damage to the party’s office, heightening security concerns ahead of the poll.
According to reports, the explosion destroyed the secretariat’s gate while doors, windows and other property were destroyed.
The ICIR also noted from a viral video that the fire damaged the main gate, the security post of the secretariat, and parts of an adjacent building.
In a text message sent to journalists, the party’s caretaker committee chairman in the state, Tony Okocha, blamed supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the attack.
“At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office.
“The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire,” Okocha claimed.
Meanwhile, when contacted by The ICIR, Rivers State Police public relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she heard about the incident but had not yet received the full details.
She promised to follow up with a detailed response but had not done so at press time.
The explosion has, however, added to the already tense atmosphere surrounding the local government elections in the state, which have been marked by fierce political rivalry.
Although Fubara has repeatedly insisted that the election would be held today in contrast to Abuja’s court ruling, The ICIR gathered that the APC had vowed not to participate in the exercise.
It’s, however, unclear whether the party supporters will participate in the election.
On Wednesday, October 2, The ICIR reported how Fubara said he resolved that RSIEC go ahead with the election believing that the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling on local governments’ autonomy superseded the Abuja Federal High Court stopping the poll.
While he called on security agents in the state to ensure the exercise was free, fair, and credible, the Nigerian Police Force has withdrawn its personnel from the election.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M