Protests Rock Rivers, As INEC Suspends Counting of Election Results

There is heavy protest in Port Harcourt following the suspension of the announcement of the result of the governorship election in Rivers State.

An electoral official looks at documents at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on March 10, 2019.

Nigeria’s election authorities announced the suspension of activities in volatile opposition-held Rivers State on March 10 citing violence and threats to its staff, as tensions rise in the wake of closely-watched regional elections.

Counting is continuing across the country after the March 9 elections for governors in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, all state assemblies and administrative councils in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Results are expected in the coming days.

The protesters, who are worried over the suspension, are calling for immediate completion of the collation and announcement of the results. Leader of the protest, Jackson Omenazu, has urged the INEC to release and announce all the results collated.