The local government elections in Rivers State have taken a fresh twist, one that has left the Nigeria Police at the center of the discussion.

All was going well at the Elekahia Primary School in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area.

However, as voters exercised their civic rights, armed men dressed in police uniforms launched a violent attack leading to the disruption of the election in that polling unit.

According to eyewitnesses, the men arrived in approximately 21 Hilux patrol vans and began firing tear gas and seizing election materials.

The attack brought the election to a sudden end as officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and voters fled for their lives.

The incident unfolded as RSIEC officials prepared to begin accreditation in Ward 19, which comprises ten units.

Upon the armed men’s arrival from Elekahia Road, chaos ensued.

One of the armed men confronted an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official.

They ordered the officials to remove their vests and hand them over while ensuring they confiscated all election materials.

The situation escalated as the armed men fired tear gas canisters directly into the crowd, leading to widespread panic among the residents and voters.

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Bystanders at the entrance of Ibe Street in Elekahia were also targeted, as one-armed man discharged another tear gas canister into the area.

Reports indicate that multiple police patrol vans sped out of the area, carrying away various election materials.

This has raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in Rivers State.