An explosion has destroyed buildings and property at the Tony Okocha-led secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, coinciding with the local government elections taking place in the state.
The blast shattered the gates and doors of the secretariat. According to Tony Okocha, the factional chairman of the APC in Rivers State, the explosion was carried out by armed individuals in the early hours of the morning.
“At around 3:20 am, a group of gun-toting young men arrived with explosives. After their initial attempt to detonate one device failed, they returned and set fire to the structure. The security house is completely destroyed,” Okocha explained.
Okocha claimed the attack was politically motivated, accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara of inciting violence ahead of the election. He questioned the intent behind the attack, noting that there were no voting units at the APC secretariat.
“This was a deliberate attempt to decimate and embarrass us,” Okocha added.
While the police have yet to comment on the explosion, voting has commenced in various polling centers in Port Harcourt amidst ongoing controversies. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) confirmed that the election would proceed despite the police’s refusal to provide security, citing a court order.
In a statement, RSIEC Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs, Tobin Tamunotonye, reaffirmed the legality of the elections, referencing the 1999 Constitution and a September 2024 court ruling that empowered the agency to conduct the polls.
