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<v Speaker 2>Nigeria.

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<v Speaker 1>President Barla Amed Sinobo has ordered the Inspector General of

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<v Speaker 1>Police IMJP Coyote Agmtokun to return peace law and order

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<v Speaker 1>to reverse stath following violence that erupted across the states

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<v Speaker 1>on Monday morning. After the winners of the local government

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<v Speaker 1>area chairpersons and councilor's polls were declared on Sunday, President

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<v Speaker 1>Syllable in the state lands signed and men available by

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<v Speaker 1>the Presidential Advisor on Information and Strategy, Bayo on Ongar,

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<v Speaker 1>said the police should secure the local government area secretariats,

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<v Speaker 1>while urging the state Governor Ubara similarly and other parties

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<v Speaker 1>involved in the elections to secredress in court and avoid

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<v Speaker 1>self help. The elections results showed that the Action People's

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<v Speaker 1>Party at win most of the positions in the local

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<v Speaker 1>government elections, as the party secured three hundred and fourteen

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<v Speaker 1>out of three hundred and nineteen councilorship seats across the

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<v Speaker 1>state's twenty three local government areas. The chairman of the

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<v Speaker 1>Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission RSIEC, Justice Adolphos and Ebi,

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<v Speaker 1>announced the results in Port Harcourt on Sunday. Stanton the

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<v Speaker 1>APP also won twenty two out of the twenty three

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<v Speaker 1>local government area chairmanship seats. According to the RSIEC, they

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<v Speaker 1>up won three hundred and fourteen words, while they all

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<v Speaker 1>Progressive Congress, Labor Party, Social Democratic Party and Young People's

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<v Speaker 1>Party each clinched one seat. Channa's Television on Monday reported

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<v Speaker 1>that the Rivers State local government elections may have concluded successfully,

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<v Speaker 1>but tension remains between factions loyal to governors, similarly for

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<v Speaker 1>Bara and those aligned with the FCTY minister in Ysom

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<v Speaker 1>Weeki Governor for Bara had on Sunday raised concerns about

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<v Speaker 1>an alleged plan to obstruct the newly elected chairman as

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<v Speaker 1>the resume office on Monday, those concerns s flared out

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<v Speaker 1>in some countcil rules in a Holder East local government area.

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<v Speaker 1>The newiest one in Chairman Chibudong Hezekiah, along with counselors

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<v Speaker 1>and a large crowd of supporters, encountered resistance at the

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<v Speaker 1>council gate, where a small group attempted to prevent them

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<v Speaker 1>from gaining access.

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<v Speaker 2>However, with the intervention of.

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<v Speaker 1>Security operatives and the insistence of the crowd, the situation

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<v Speaker 1>was brought under control, allowing the chairman and his team

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<v Speaker 1>to enter the council amidst jubilation. The new councilors proceeded

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<v Speaker 1>with their swearing in ceremony. Afterward, they moved directly to

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<v Speaker 1>their chambers to hold their first City Chairman Hezekiah alleged

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<v Speaker 1>that the brief destruction at the gate was orchestrated by

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<v Speaker 1>the former chairman, Benjamin Ak, who is loyal to WIKI.

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<v Speaker 1>He emphasized that the will of the people is greater.

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<v Speaker 1>Channel's Television reached out to Ak via telephone and he

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<v Speaker 1>confirmed that he was responsible for the resistance. However, he

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<v Speaker 1>explained that his actions were in protest of the elections,

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<v Speaker 1>which he believed should not have taken place due to

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<v Speaker 1>a court order from Abuja. Earlier on Monday, police authorities

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<v Speaker 1>announced the reopening of the twenty three local government council

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<v Speaker 1>secretariats following the successful conduct of the elections. They have

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<v Speaker 1>also withdrawn their officers who were previously blocking access to

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<v Speaker 1>the councils with ongo intentions. One can only hope for

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<v Speaker 1>peace to prevail to enable the required development at the grassroots.

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<v Speaker 2>Level of Rivers State.

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<v Speaker 1>However, President Bollatinbo has called on governors similarity Fubara political

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<v Speaker 1>leaders and their supporters in rivers tend to exercise.

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<v Speaker 2>Restraint and uphold the rule of law.

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<v Speaker 1>In response to recent tensions following last Saturday's local government

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<v Speaker 1>council election, the President expressed in concern over reports of assens.

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<v Speaker 2>And explosions in the state.

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<v Speaker 1>He urged all political actors today escalect the situation and

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<v Speaker 1>discouraged their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.

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<v Speaker 1>President Syllable directed the police to restore and maintain peace,

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<v Speaker 1>law and order immediately, while instructing law enforcement agencies to

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<v Speaker 1>bring the situation under control. He emphasized the need to

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<v Speaker 1>ensure the security of public institutions. President Syllable said government

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<v Speaker 1>facilities built with public funds must be selfcarded from vandalism.

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<v Speaker 1>He stressed that self help has no place in a

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<v Speaker 1>democratic system, especially after twenty five years of continuous democracy.

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<v Speaker 1>According to President Syllable, the judiciary can settle all political

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<v Speaker 1>disputes and the outcome of this election should be no exception,

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<v Speaker 1>bio or nogustated. In the press statement, Former Nigeria President

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<v Speaker 1>good Luck Abla Jonata held on Saturday during the election,

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<v Speaker 1>cautioned against escalation of violence. He has said, I am

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<v Speaker 1>aware that the local government election taking place in Rivers

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<v Speaker 1>State today October fifth, has been a subject of great

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<v Speaker 1>interest to political actors. The political happenings in Rivers State

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<v Speaker 1>in the past days is a cause for serious concern

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<v Speaker 1>for everyone, especially lovers of democracy and all actors within

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<v Speaker 1>the peace and security sector of our nation. Elections are

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<v Speaker 1>the corner stone of democracy because they are the primary

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<v Speaker 1>source of legitimacy. This process renews the firths of citizens

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<v Speaker 1>in their country as it affords them the opportunity to

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<v Speaker 1>have a say on who governs them.

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<v Speaker 2>Every election is.

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<v Speaker 1>Significant, whether at national or sub national levels, as it

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<v Speaker 1>counts as again and or not to democracy. It is

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<v Speaker 1>the responsibility of all stakeholders, especially state institutions, to work

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<v Speaker 1>towards the promotion of sound democratic culture, of which periodic

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<v Speaker 1>elections stands as a noble virtue. Democracy is a collective asset.

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<v Speaker 1>Its growth and progress is dependent on government's commitment to

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<v Speaker 1>uphold the role of law and pursue the interests of

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<v Speaker 1>peace and justice at all times. Institutions of the state,

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<v Speaker 1>especially security agencies, must refrain from actions that could lead

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<v Speaker 1>to breakdown of law and order. River State represents the

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<v Speaker 1>gateway to the Niger delta and the third to peace

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<v Speaker 1>in the state could have huge security implications in the region.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me sound a note of caution to all political

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<v Speaker 1>actors in this crisis to be circumspect and patriotic in

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<v Speaker 1>the pursuit of their political ambition and relevance. I am

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<v Speaker 1>calling on the National Judicial Commission and JESSE to take

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<v Speaker 1>action that will call the proliferation of court orders and judgments,

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<v Speaker 1>especially in those of concurrent jurisdiction giving conflicting orders. This,

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<v Speaker 1>if not checked, will radicle the institution of the judiciary

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<v Speaker 1>and derail our democracy. The political situation in Rivers State

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<v Speaker 1>mirrors are pasted the crisis of the Old Western Region.

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<v Speaker 1>I therefore one that Rivers should not be used as

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<v Speaker 1>crystal that will form the blog that will collapse our democracy.

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<v Speaker 1>State institutions, especially the police and the judiciary and all

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<v Speaker 1>other stakeholders must always work for public interests and promote

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<v Speaker 1>common goods such as peace, justice and equality. While the

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<v Speaker 1>elections were ongoing on Saturday, there was heaving gone fire

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<v Speaker 1>at Romupirical community in Rivers State, the country home of

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<v Speaker 1>former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in Ysomwiki,

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<v Speaker 1>a source in the area. According to Sahara reporters said

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<v Speaker 1>some people had come into the community and announced that

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<v Speaker 1>no one should come out for the local government polls.

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<v Speaker 1>It was gathered that when the electoral officers were about

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<v Speaker 1>to arrive at the World in the Obio, a poor

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<v Speaker 1>local government area, the government arrived in the area as well.

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<v Speaker 1>The unidentified gunmen who arrived in the area with heavy

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<v Speaker 1>gun fire scared of people from coming out to participate

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<v Speaker 1>in the election. It was also gathered that one person

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<v Speaker 1>sustained a bullet injury and had been rushed to a

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<v Speaker 1>health facility for treatment. The state electoral body suspended the

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<v Speaker 1>declaration of results for h Local Government Area LGA because

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<v Speaker 1>the collation was said to be ongoing on Sunday. The

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<v Speaker 1>RSIEC chairman, according to Channel's Television, has sent that announcement

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<v Speaker 1>for the three hundred and nineteen councilorship seats will be

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<v Speaker 1>announced alongside that of the eight chairmanship position when collations

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<v Speaker 1>are concluded. He described the election as free, fair and

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<v Speaker 1>credible despite all odds. According to him, polls were closed

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<v Speaker 1>at three pm and recorded a large turnout of voters.

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<v Speaker 1>Enebly saluted the patriotism of the residents who turned out

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<v Speaker 1>to vote. The declaration of the results was observed by

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<v Speaker 1>members of the Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC, chairman of

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<v Speaker 1>the state's independent electoral bodies across the country, and members

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<v Speaker 1>of the Nigerian Bar Association who acted as observers in

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<v Speaker 1>the polls. He said the Commission adopted the principle of

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<v Speaker 1>by location because of the exigencies the found themselves. The

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<v Speaker 1>results were announced at the Ministry of Justice Hall at

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<v Speaker 1>the State Secretariat Complex rather than the Commission's office on

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<v Speaker 1>Aba Road. On election day, two explosions rocked the state.

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<v Speaker 1>Police authorities confirmed that one of the incidents happened earlier

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<v Speaker 1>on Saturday. The first explosion was reported at the ap

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<v Speaker 1>Secretariat on Aba Road at approximately three am. A security

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<v Speaker 1>guard reported hearing a loud bang and upon investigation of

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<v Speaker 1>self three block Toyota helocks vans speeding away from the scene.

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<v Speaker 1>The spokespassing of the rivers, tenth Police Command breast Range

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<v Speaker 1>Coco said, adding that the incidents are being investigated. The

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<v Speaker 1>explosion caused significant damage, destroying the gate and shattering the

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<v Speaker 1>windows of the building. Additionally, the security building was set ablaze.

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<v Speaker 1>The second explosion occurred at the obio A Poor Council Secretariat.

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<v Speaker 2>Around three thirty am.

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<v Speaker 1>Eyewitnesses reported seeing a black Toyota he locks van and

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<v Speaker 1>a white Toyota Sena minivuan drive past the secretariat. Gunshots

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<v Speaker 1>were equally reported in some parts of Pottercourt, the state capital.

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<v Speaker 1>Some on identified passes who rode in the block Toyota

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<v Speaker 1>Corolla where spotted firing gunshots around the Wimpi area of

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<v Speaker 1>the States, which is a stone thrown from the home

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<v Speaker 1>of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory f CIT

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<v Speaker 1>in Ysomwiki. Some members of the People's Democratic Party PDP

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<v Speaker 1>had earlier in the week protestant against the conduct of

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<v Speaker 1>the election and had stormed the Department of State Security

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<v Speaker 1>office and the government's house, both in Port Harcourt, to

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<v Speaker 1>register their demand. Saturna's declaration of results brings to an

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<v Speaker 1>end upon centon run to the local government election in

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<v Speaker 1>the oil rich States. The election followed the federal government

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<v Speaker 1>three month grades for states to conduct local government polls.

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<v Speaker 1>Ahead of the exercise, police authorities had said they will

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<v Speaker 1>not provide security for the election, citing a court order.

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<v Speaker 1>The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was also bound by

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<v Speaker 1>a court order from presenting the voter register to RSIEC

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<v Speaker 1>that both created repoles in the state, leading to a

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<v Speaker 1>heightened atmosphere. Days before the election, only third Governor seminarly

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<v Speaker 1>for bara val that the pole would hold and storm

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<v Speaker 1>the rsie C office around one am on Friday, allegend

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<v Speaker 1>that police operatives in the state want to flood the exercise.

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<v Speaker 1>We are prepared, We are prepared, the governor said, as

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<v Speaker 1>he called on the Inspector General of Police IGP Kyade

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<v Speaker 1>egg Metokul to take responsibility for any disruptions, but the

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<v Speaker 1>police said their officers were at the RSIEC office to

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<v Speaker 1>secure the facility. Conversely, in reaction to credible and actionable

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<v Speaker 1>intelligence received about plans by Hudlos to carry out an

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<v Speaker 1>ascent attack on the rsi e C office, police personnel

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<v Speaker 1>were deployed to secure the premises. The River's stenth Police

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<v Speaker 1>Command said. The River's stenth Police Command remain committed to

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<v Speaker 1>our duty to maintain the peace and ask residents of

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<v Speaker 1>Rivers tend to act within the confines of the law.

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<v Speaker 1>The police will do everything to maintain law and order.

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<v Speaker 1>Some of the top parties in the States, including Fubarous

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<v Speaker 1>People's Democratic Party PDP and the All Progressives Congress APC

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<v Speaker 1>did not participate in the election. You know this election,

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<v Speaker 1>I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating.

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<v Speaker 1>It is the truth, the governor said on the ig

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<v Speaker 1>of the election. The PDP at the national level, however,

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<v Speaker 1>called on residents of the States to come out for

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<v Speaker 1>the poll and exercise their franchise. Channel's television reported Saslady

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<v Speaker 1>Green Day, you need in a more digital way,