APC guber candidate, Cole, escapes attack; Shots fired as tension mounts over APC, PDP supporters’ clash

There is palpable tension in Port Harcourt, Rivers State following a clash between the All Progressives Congress – APC and the People’s Democratic Party – PDP on Monday April 3, 2023.

Members of the PDP on Monday morning were at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a protest to demand a joint inspection of election materials by all political parties involved in the March 11 Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections in the state.

While the PDP protest continued, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole alongside the State APC Chairman, Emeka Beke and other party leaders also visited the INEC Office.

According to eyewitness account, the protesters on sighting the APC governorship candidate, ran in his direction pelting stones at his entourage.

Following the attack, security operatives attached to Cole immediately took him away from the scene as the protest continued.

To restore calm, soldiers of the 6 Division, Nigeria’ Army, operatives of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were mobilized to the scene and shot into the air to disperse the protesters.

One of the security men attached to Cole reportedly fired a stray bullet that hit one of the protesters. The gunshot victim is said to have bled profusely before being conveyed to the hospital by sympathisers at the scene of the incident.

At the time of this report, the Rivers State Police Command PPRO was not within reach for comments.