INEC Distributes Materials In Rivers Amidst Tight Security

Sensitive materials for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections were on Friday morning distributed to polling officers from all the local government areas of Rivers State by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt.

The exercise, which began as early as 3am, was still ongoing as of 10am on Friday.

A senior INEC official in the state, who asked not to be named because she was not authorised to speak with journalists, told our correspondent that some of their staff and polling officers from several local government areas spent the night at the commission’s office for a smooth and quick distribution of the items.

Heavily-armed policemen were seen stationed at strategic locations in the area, waiting to escort the materials to their various destinations.

Meanwhile, a total of 25 foreign and local observers have been accredited by INEC to monitor the elections in Rivers State.

However, of the number, only about six had reported for clearance as of 10am on Friday.

Those already cleared include the African Union, European Union, ECOWAS, United Nations Women, All Nigerian Nationals in Diaspora and the International Republican Institute.

Head of Election and Party Monitoring of the Commission in the state, Mr. Okoye Charles, confirmed the details in an interview with our correspondent."