Drama as Wike shuns voting in Rivers LG polls

There was a mild drama in Rivers State on Saturday, as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State refused to vote in the local government election held across the state.

The election was marred by apathy, as the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.

Election officials, security personnel, journalists and others who had converged on Rumueperikom Polling Unit in Ward nine to witness the governor cast his vote waited in vain till the end of voting.

Hope that Wike would vote was initially raised at about 1:30 p.m when the governor’s outrider and other vehicles in his convoy were approaching the polling unit.

It, however, became clear that the governor was not ready to vote as the convoy drove past the voting area and did not show up till the end of voting.

Wike was later said to be interested in seeing to the smooth conduct of the election than voting.

The election was however devoid of the usual tension and violence that usually characterises election in the state, a development attributed to the non-participation of the APC in the election.

Although the Jutice Chukwunenye Uriri-led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had stated that 68 political parties would participate in the election, it turned out to be a one-horse race for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).