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A group, the National Youth Council of Ogoni People, stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt, on Monday, protesting the outcome of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

NYCOP, which is the youth wing of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, described the March 18, 2023 elections in the state as a rape of Nigeria’s democracy.

The protesters, numbering about 100, displayed placards with different inscriptions, such as “Rivers INEC, an extension of Governor Wike’s office,” “Our democracy is not safe with INEC,” “We reject results uploaded after the declaration of winners,” and “Our votes must count,” among others.

President of NYCOP, Barinuazor Emmanuel, while speaking at the venue of the protest accused the electoral umpire of conniving with some political parties to subvert the will of the people.


Emmanuel alleged that 15 deaths were recorded in Ogoni land during the March 18 elections, but said the incidents were not reported.

Emmanuel stated, “We are here today, as peaceful people, to say that what happened to us on March 18, 2023, was a rape of our democracy. INEC and some political parties denied us our will to vote.