But for the intervention of thousands of Rivers people, police personnel from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) would have stolen the mandate of the people of Rivers East Senatorial District.
News filtered into the town that the Police SARs Personnel led by the notorious SARs Commander, Akin Fakorede had stormed the Collation Centre at the Port Harcourt City Council. Akin Fakorede and his men beat up the Collation Officer for Emohua Local Government Area, Chukwudi Odekpa, breaking his head.
The SARs Personnel also manhandled the Emohua Local Government Electoral Officer, Mary Tonkoyo.
They were however unlucky as they did not know that the results were still left in the INEC Toyota Hilux van in the premises.
In the course of the altercation, the SARS Personnel smashed Channels Television live broadcast equipment, beat up the Old GRA Divisional Police Officer and also manhandled the Female Commandant of Civil Defence providing security for the election.
The SARs Personnel also abducted the PDP Agent, Mr Chinyere Igwe.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike joined the Rivers people outside the Collation Office. Upon sighting the convoy of Governor Wike, the SARs personnel shot sporadically into the air, before fleeing the area.
Thereafter, the regular policemen backed by a detachment of the Nigerian Army provided security for the collation to conclude successfully.
Declaring the result for Rivers East Senatorial District , Returning Officer , Prof Onu Ekumankama announced that PDP’s Senator George Sekibo polled 98, 098 votes to defeat Mr Andrew Uchendu of the APC who polled 34, 193 votes
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.
12th December, 2016.
