The Labour Party has strongly condemned the October 5, 2024, elections in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State, describing them as a “coronation” rather than a genuine electoral process.

According to Dr. Francis Matthew, Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party Port Harcourt Campaign Council, the elections were conducted without adherence to electoral laws, and fundamental principles guiding free, fair, and credible elections were ignored.

“The exercise was a sham, orchestrated to achieve a predetermined outcome.None of the fundamental principles or laws guiding free, fair, and credible elections were followed,” Matthew said.

He highlighted several irregularities, including the non-use of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the absence of result sheets in 938 of the 960 polling units across the 20 wards of Port Harcourt LGA.

“This is a gross violation of the law, and we, as a party and as the people of Rivers, vehemently reject this travesty,” he said.

He noted that the party had earlier put the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) on notice, urging them to comply with electoral laws and guidelines.

He added that the notification will form the foundation of their legal battle.

He assured the party’s loyal supporters not to lose hope despite the setback

He said: “The judiciary has proven to be a reliable tool in correcting electoral wrongdoings, and we are confident that the courts will carefully examine the evidence and deliver a just and honourable verdict.”

The Labour Party vowed to continue its legal battle, armed with overwhelming evidence from thousands of witnesses.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit to correct this abnormality and ensure that the people of Port Harcourt are allowed to fulfill their civic duties and have their votes count,” Matthew said.