Gov Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed shock at the actions of the police, alleging an attempt to invade the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) premises to disrupt the planned local government elections on Saturday.

During a media briefing at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Fubara noted that he had previously been informed that the police intended to withdraw from the local government elections. He questioned why Rivers State was being singled out, pointing to what he described as undue scrutiny on an electoral body that falls under state jurisdiction.

Fubara referenced a court ruling from Abuja, which only instructed the police not to provide security for the elections. The governor emphasized that this ruling did not extend to sealing RSIEC premises or interfering with the electoral process. He stressed that a prior ruling from the Rivers State High Court should take precedence, emphasizing that the elections should proceed in line with the Supreme Court’s decision, which the Federal Government is set to implement.

The governor warned that attempts to obstruct the elections could have severe implications, particularly for the welfare of local government workers. He urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to be prepared to take responsibility for any disruptions, cautioning that any efforts to stop the elections would be firmly resisted. Fubara reaffirmed that the elections would proceed as planned, with elected officials sworn in immediately after. “We are prepared, we are prepared,” he stated.

Governor Fubara further explained that, before initiating the election process, a formal request for protection was sent to key security officials, including the National Security Adviser, the IGP, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other agencies, accompanied by a copy of the Rivers State High Court judgment.

Concluding the briefing, Fubara downplayed the necessity of police presence at polling units, expressing confidence that other security agencies could effectively maintain law and order during the elections in the absence of police.