There is tension in Rivers State following the insistence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to hold the scheduled local government elections scheduled tomorrow, Saturday. Also, the governor accused the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the entire Police Force of serving the interest of an Abuja-based politician to scuttle the local government election.
Governor Fubara made the allegations while addressing a world press conference at Government House in Port Harcourt today, Friday. The governor said the already scheduled local government election, barely hours away, cannot be stopped or truncated because a particular person does not want it conducted. He said that everything that needed to be done about the electoral process legally, security-wise and logistically, including the voters, had been finalised and voters sensitised because of their high confidence levels.
Governor Fubara said even the Police have been informed, and are expected to discharge their statutory professional security duties, particularly because the court also directed so in its judgement on the election. He expressed regret that rather, the Police have become hired agents sent to attack the headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and tried but in vain to cart away sensitive materials.
Night raid
Fubara said: “In the early hours of this morning (Friday), I got a security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, office has been invaded by the Nigerian Police. “I was really surprised, because before that time, I got a copy of a signal withdrawing the police officers that were guarding the premises. So, I had to drive to the place myself since the facility belongs to the Rivers State Government.
“Getting to the scene, and to the shock of everyone who accompanied me there, I met the presence of some fierce-looking policemen in one truck and three other empty Hilux vans trying to force their way into the premises. “And, I had to stop them. In the process, we discovered that that movement (operation), was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force, both the Rivers State Command and the Headquarters (Abuja), to steal the electoral materials.
“But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.”
Governor Fubara questioned how low the Police stooped, allowing its officers to engage in such illegal acts that suggested that they have become enemies of Rivers State.
Otherwise, Governor Fubara wondered, why would the Police attempt to take over control of RSIEC or be used to stop an ongoing democratic process, which will lead to the emergence of elected political leadership at the local government councils.
Governor Fubara said: “Here are the questions: first, is the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, not an agency, and a process that is being controlled by the State Government?
“Is it not a system that is governed by the law of the State? Why is Rivers State’s case different?“The second part of it is: what is the special thing about this issue of taking over the premises by the Police? If we should go by what they claim that they had a court order, the court ruling said, don’t give RSIEC voter register, don’t give RSIEC police protection.
“Did the judgment say they should seal the premises? Or don’t allow them to conduct the election?” Governor Fubara also said: “However, the Rivers State Government and RSIEC itself also had a judgment that states clearly: conduct the election with the voter’s register of 2023; and police, DSS, Nigeria Army and other sister agencies should provide security.
“I might not be a lawyer, but I understand clearly that when it comes to the issue of judgment, there is something they call first-in-time.”
Governor Fubara asked if there is any other court unknown to him that is bigger than the Supreme Court of Nigeria, whose judgment concerning a proper constitution of elected Local Government Councils is being obeyed in Rivers State.