The Rivers State Police Command has averted what would have turned out to be a bloody clash between the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and members of the amalgamation of civil society organisations in Port Harcourt.
The security operatives dispersed the two opposing group of protesters with teargas canisters, as they were marching to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Aba road, Port Harcourt.
A group under the aegis of Amalgamation of Civil Society Organisations, commenced the protest from their take-off point around Polo Club when an opposing group from the People’s Democratic Party also commenced their protest from the same location.
The action of the police came few minutes after security leaders finished advising two separate groups planning to stage a protest to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission to abort the planned protest or take different directions to avoid clash.
There was a standoff between the groups as they were singing war songs, and throwing tantrum at each other and refused to budge.
The two groups, armed with placards bearing inscriptions of their support base were advancing towards GRA end of Port Harcourt, when they were intercepted by the Police who advised them to retrace and follow different routes to access INEC office, when the Police dispersed them with teargas.
Earlier, the leader of the Amalgamation of Civil Society Organization, Jackson Omenazu said that they were on their way to INEC to ask for the immediate transfer of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner.
He said the state REC cannot be trusted with credible collation process of the governorship results in the State.
The Rivers State Police Command is yet to react to the development.
This is happening few days to when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has scheduled to commence collation of results of the election in Rivers state.
