PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AP) – Nine people were killed Saturday as Nigerians voted for state governors and assemblies in which the opposition hopes to make gains following its victory unseating President Goodluck Jonathan two weeks ago.
The killings occurred in oil-rich Rivers state, which is hotly contested.
Opposition gubernatorial candidate Dakuku Peterside said eight of his supporters died and police said an officer was killed.
“A lot of gunshots in the air as I speak to you, but the military is trying their best to bring the situation under control,” Livingstone Membere, president of the Kalabari Youth Federation told The Associated Press from Asari Toru area.
He said a polling station was burned down along with the house of the state commissioner for women’s affairs.