Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force of acting under the influence of former Governor Nyesom Wike to disrupt the Local Government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024, in the state.
Governor Fubara made these allegations during a World Press Conference held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday. He expressed strong dismay over what he described as a coordinated attempt by the police to sabotage the democratic process in Rivers State.
Fubara stressed that the election, which is just hours away, cannot be canceled or disrupted because of the whims of a particular individual. He stated that all necessary legal, logistical, and security preparations for the election had been completed. “Everything that needs to be done has been done,” he said, “from security arrangements to legal processes, to voters’ sensitization.”
The governor highlighted that the police had already been notified of their expected role in providing security for the elections, as directed by the courts. “The court has ruled in favor of this election proceeding, and the police are expected to uphold their duty of ensuring security, not disrupting the process,” Fubara said.
However, the Governor lamented that instead of complying with the court’s ruling, the police had taken a different approach. Fubara accused the police of attempting to seize sensitive electoral materials from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, describing their actions as a clear violation of the state’s democratic process.
“In the early hours of this morning, I received a security report that the RSIEC office had been invaded by officers of the Nigeria Police. This was shocking because just before that, I had received a signal that the police guards posted at the premises were withdrawn,” the governor recounted. Fubara said he personally went to the scene, where he encountered a group of heavily armed policemen in one truck and three empty Hilux vans attempting to force their way into the premises.
“We discovered that this operation was a deliberate attempt by the Nigeria Police, both from the Rivers State Command and Abuja Headquarters, to steal electoral materials. But by the grace of God, their plan was foiled,” Fubara added.
The Governor went on to question the integrity of the Nigeria Police, alleging that they had stooped to becoming agents of certain interests against the people of Rivers State. “How low can the police go?” he asked. “Why would the Nigeria Police, an institution meant to serve the people, be used to halt a democratic process that is underway?”
Governor Fubara argued that the RSIEC is a legitimate agency under the control of the state government, governed by the laws of Rivers State. “Why is Rivers State’s case different?” he asked. He also dismissed the police’s claims of acting on a court order, clarifying that the court ruling merely instructed the RSIEC not to use the voter register or provide police protection but did not authorize the sealing of premises or halting of the election.
Fubara further emphasized that the Rivers State Government and RSIEC also had a court ruling which mandated that the elections proceed using the 2023 voter register, with security provided by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Army. “I may not be a lawyer,” he remarked, “but I understand that there is a concept of ‘first-in-time’ in legal matters.”
The Governor criticized the police’s actions as a direct challenge to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. “Is there any court in this country bigger than the Supreme Court?” he asked, emphasizing that the highest court had ruled that local government councils must be constituted through elections. Fubara added that President Bola Tinubu had directed all states to comply with the Supreme Court judgment within 90 days, which is why Rivers State, like many others, had scheduled its election.
“Other states are conducting elections to comply with the court’s ruling and the agreement with the President. So why is Rivers State being singled out?” Fubara questioned.
Governor Fubara drew parallels between the current situation and Nigeria’s infamous June 12, 1993, election crisis, in which the courts ruled that no election should be halted mid-process. He expressed fears that the police’s actions were reminiscent of that dark chapter in Nigeria’s history when a democratic process was similarly undermined. “We cannot allow a repeat of what happened on June 12, 1993,” he warned. “This is about democracy, and it must be allowed to prevail.”
Governor Fubara concluded his address by calling on the Nigeria Police Force to refrain from further interference in the electoral process. He urged them to respect the law, fulfill their statutory role in ensuring peaceful elections, and resist the pressure to serve partisan interests. He also reassured the people of Rivers State that the local government elections would hold as scheduled, and their rights to elect their leaders would not be trampled upon.
“The people of Rivers State deserve better, and we will not back down in the face of these challenges. Democracy must prevail,” Fubara affirmed.
