The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that one person died while 12 others were arrested during Saturday’s legislative rerun elections in the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Ahmad Muhammad, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Saturday that it received report about the death of one person in Eleme, Eleme Local Government.
Muhammad said 10 people were arrested in Eleme while two were picked up on their way to Akinima, Ahoada West Local Government Area.
“The suspects committed election-related offences. They are being interrogated while investigation has commenced on the offences committed,” he said.
He also said the police did not know what caused the death of the middle-aged man in Eleme and that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area received the report.
He said the command did necessary deployments to ensure credible elections in the state.
The police statement is at variance with reports of widespread violence and irregularities that characterised the exercise.
An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) identified as Tambari Ntoti was reportedly shot dead in the morning.
The PDP said the killing of Ntoti was perpetrated by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which in turn accused the former of killing four people in Rumuekini, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
The police have denied any such killing took place.
Following several cases of irregularities which trailed the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced suspension of voting exercise in six local government areas.
Rivers Electoral Commissioner Aneidi Ikoiwak told reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that polls were suspended in Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and Tai due to “irregularities” during Saturday’s voting.
No date has been fixed for the rerun elections in the affected areas but the exercise went ahead in the remaining 17 of 23 local government areas.
Ikoiwak said some party agents had attacked electoral officials after accusing them of using fake election materials for the vote.
“This allegation is untrue. All election materials used by INEC are genuine. A new date will be announced for the election,” he said.
Tight security had been ordered for Saturday’s polls, including movement restrictions and a ban on speedboats.
On Thursday, the military said suspected sea pirates killed two soldiers in a gun battle, as tensions rose ahead of Saturday’s polls.
