4th October, 2024
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has accused the Nigerian Police Force of attempting to usurp control of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in the wee hours of Friday, October 4, 2024.
According to the governor, a contingent of policemen, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), endeavored to breach the electoral commission’s gates and strong room to steal sensitive materials meant for the forthcoming local government elections.
Fubara asserted that the clandestine operation, allegedly orchestrated by the Inspector-General of Police, was thwarted when vigilant security personnel alerted key officials and government authorities.
The governor swiftly mobilized a formidable team, comprising government officials, lawmakers from the National and State Assemblies, prominent political stakeholders, and community leaders, to converge on the facility.
Addressing newsmen in front of RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, after an encounter with the policemen, Fubara condemned the conduct of the policemen on illegal duty, saying that the IGP was taking his friendship with some Abuja-based politicians too far.
He restated the position that the attempt to surreptitiously withdraw policemen already deployed to protect the facility, and replace them with a detachment from a neighbouring State was unacceptable.
He reminded the IGP that local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised him to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.
At present, the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and State and National Assembly members, alongside other stakeholders, are manning the RSIEC office to ensure that policemen in two trucks and two Hilux vehicles do not return and that elections will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday.
