Residents in Rivers State on Saturday cast their ballots in the local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) across 23 councils.
The exercise, which was held in 6,866 polling units in the 319 wards of the state, is expected to produce elected local government chairpersons and councilors and replace the council administrators appointed in April 2025.
The elections came six months and two days after the Supreme Court upturned the council elections conducted on October 5, 2024, by the RSIEC.
The election on Saturday in different areas, including Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor Metropolis, and Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, observed that the exercise was largely peaceful.
Speaking during a pre-election broadcast on Friday, the Chairman of the RSIEC, Michael Odey, assured the voters of the prompt arrival of voting materials to the various polling units, including the rural and riverine communities.
However, it was observed that electoral materials did not arrive in time in some polling units.
As of 9:30 am, voting had yet to commence at Ward 3, Unit 11 in the Emohua LGA.
Only a few voters and party agents were present, making arrangements ahead of the arrival of the materials.
The same situation was recorded at Ward 3, Unit 9 in the Emohua LGA, where a few voters were seen checking their names on the register displayed on the wall, while an RSIEC official waited for the arrival of electoral materials.
Voting was ongoing in Ward 13, Unit 06, Aluu, in the Ikwerre LGA, when Channels Television visited the unit at about 10:30 am.