Viral reports from the March 18, 2023 governorship and state assembly elections, claim that members of the Onelga Peace Security and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in Rivers State were visiting polling units in Emohua where they allegedly threatened to scuttle the election if they weren’t “settled,”
A Twitter user shared this report. The post, which has received over 16,000 views, has been reshared on other social media platforms.
Verification
CDD Election War Room spoke with the CDD state coordinator for election observers in Rivers State, who confirmed that members of OSPAC were present in Emohua local government, but that they were unable to disrupt the electoral process because security agents were invited to calm the situation.
He also stated that the members were present at the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, which serves as their main base or headquarters.
Verdict
The claim that OSPAC members were going around polling units is true. They, however, did not disrupt the voting process in the local government area.