By Hundreds of women dressed in red flooded the streets of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, staging a dramatic “prayer march” to demand the reversal of the state of emergency in Rivers State.
The protest, organised under the banner Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), comes just two days after opposing groups of women held dueling demonstrations—some supporting, others rejecting the emergency rule.
Chanting “We want to see our governor,” the women marched with placards bearing bold messages such as “LGA Administrators Undemocratic,” “We Are Gagged In Our LGAs,” “Sole Administrator Is Bias,” and “Declare How Much You Met.”
The demonstration, which covered major streets in the state capital, underscored rising tensions in Rivers as political unrest and administrative disputes continue to grip local governments.
Monday’s earlier marches had divided opinions—with pro-emergency rule supporters holding a rally in Port Harcourt, while anti-emergency rule demonstrators gathered at Mbiama Junction in Ahoada-West.
The latest protest adds pressure to the already heated political climate in Rivers State, as citizens—especially women—become increasingly vocal about governance, transparency, and the role of state authorities.
