The senatorial by-election in Rivers State was largely peaceful and orderly, according to local government officials, even as some polling units experienced technical disruptions linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr. Thomas Barere, said the exercise went smoothly in most parts of his area, noting that residents turned out to vote despite heavy rainfall that affected turnout in some communities.
He explained that security and election monitoring teams were on ground throughout the process, adding that a situation room was active to track developments and respond quickly where necessary.
Barere also said that observers who visited polling units expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing it as generally well organised.
On reports of BVAS malfunction, he attributed the issue to temporary network instability but said officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were able to resolve the problem during the exercise.
Similarly, officials in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area reported a peaceful voting process, commending residents for coming out to participate despite unfavourable weather conditions.
The council chairman said there were no security breaches or disruptions, adding that the process remained smooth across polling units.
He also urged electoral authorities to maintain fairness and ensure that all eligible voters are allowed to exercise their rights freely.
Overall, officials said the election was conducted in a calm atmosphere, with only minor technical challenges that were quickly addressed.
