By Our Correspondent
Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara has accused the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force of acting on behalf of an Abuja-based politician to disrupt the Local Government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The governor made the accusation during a press conference at the Government House in Port Harcourt, expressing concern that the police’s actions could lead to anarchy in the state.
Governor Fubara stated that the elections must proceed as planned, emphasizing that all legal, logistical, and security preparations were complete.
He condemned the police for allegedly invading the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, attempting to steal sensitive electoral materials.
"In the early hours of this morning,
I received reports of police forces invading RSIEC. When I arrived, I saw officers attempting to force their way into the premises, an illegal act aimed at stopping the election," Governor Fubara said.
The governor criticized the police for engaging in actions that undermine the state's democratic process and questioned their legal justification for such an intervention. He urged the Inspector General of Police to take responsibility if lawlessness erupts due to police interference.
Governor Fubara assured the public that the elections would proceed as planned and urged the police to withdraw from obstructive activities. He reiterated that other security agencies would ensure the election is conducted peacefully if the police fail to perform their duties.
This was contained in a statement signed by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor.
