Officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and voters, on Saturday, ran for their lives as armed men dressed in police uniform arrived at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government shooting teargas and seizing election materials.

About 21 Hilux Patrol Vans with heavily armed men were spotted driving into the venue from Elekahia Road and immediately fired several tear gas.

RSIEC officials who had set up their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19 which has 10 units scampered for safety as the operatives chased them out of the entrance.

One of the armed men harassed an INEC official saying, “Come here, remove that vest. What are you doing here?”

The armed men, some of whom were masked, also asked the officials to remove their vests and hand them to them as they ensured that they carted away all election materials and fired more teargas.

The armed men also shot tear gas canisters directly into the crowd of people who were running for their lives.

One of the armed men fired another teargas at bystanders at the entrance of Ibe Street in Elekahia, as residents and those who came out to cast their votes ran helter-skelter.

Many of the RSIEC officials, voters and residents of the community ran into Ibe and Boms Streets in the Elekahia community in a confused manner, thereby creating tension in the area, as several police patrol vans sped out of the area with many election materials.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident.

“I’m not aware. You are just telling me now”, she stated tersely.

Buildings and other property were shattered in the early hours of Saturday as explosives suspected to be dynamite shattered the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The explosion brought down the gate of the secretariat while doors, windows and other property were destroyed.

This is the second time the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC would be experiencing such an attack at its secretariat this year.

This came as the local government elections is set to hold in the state today as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission said on Friday that all sensitive materials have been distributed to the various local government areas.

A viral video of the incident scene seen by our correspondent showed some workers at the facilities going round to ascertain the extent of damage.

When contacted, the spokespetson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had yet to get a report on it but promised to revert.

The party has yet to make a statement on the incident.

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, has eulogised Patience Oluwakemi, his wife who died last Thursday after an illness.

The Akwa Ibom first lady died in a hospital in the presence of her family.

In a broadcast on Friday, Eno said his wife’s passing left a vacuum in his life.

“Kemi was everything a man could ever wish for in a virtuous woman,” the governor said.

“My prayer partner, counsellor, cheer-leader, best critic, home maker and permanently smiling. I will miss her for a life time.”

The governor thanked Nigerians for the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and words of encouragement through phone calls, condolence messages, and visits.

Eno thanked Oluremi Tinubu for the “motherly role she played since my wife fell ill till her demise”.

The governor assured that all projects that his late wife initiated would be completed, adding that he would continue to govern the state well.

“The Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as well as all other initiatives she had started, will be sustained and expanded,” Eno said.

“The machinery of state will continue to function seamlessly as government will continue to be alive to her responsibilities.

“Our focus will not be shifted from rendering services to our people with renewed strength as this is what Kemi has always prayed for.”

Eno said announcements on the burial arrangements will be made public at the appropriate time.