There is tension and uncertainty in Rivers State over the conduct of the local government election in the state scheduled for today.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the command would comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which restrained the police and the Department of State Services from participating in the poll.

Iringe-Koko said the decision was sequel to the directives by the Force Legal Department.

The statement read, “On July 19, 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order preventing the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from providing security during the local government election.

“Additionally, on September 30, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment that again prohibited the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from participating in the local government election.

“Given these circumstances, the Nigeria Police Force has been advised by the Force Legal Department that the ruling from the Federal High Court on September 30, 2024, takes precedence.”

Parties berate police

Reacting, the All Progressives Congress loyal to a former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, said the decision was an aberration.

Chizi Enyim, the Chief of Staff to the state APC chairman, Emeka Beke, berated the police for not arresting those who protested at the command headquarters, urging the police not to participate in the election.

Enyim stated, “First of all, the APC is participating in the election and we have fielded chairmanship and councillorship candidates. What the police are saying is a decision to the rule of law.

“The said judgement by Hon. Justice Lifu did not even say that the election should be stopped but that the police should not cover and also that INEC should not release voter register to RSIEC. But as we speak, the voter register has been displayed in almost all the polling units across the state. So, those who are not comfortable with the situation should go to court.

“What the police are doing is trying to overthrow the government of Siminalayi Fubara and why is the IG interested in the affairs of Rivers people because it is his duty to protect those who are going to vote. Those who said they would not participate should go to court and if the court invalidates the election, fine and good. The election has not been invalidated so what is the IG’s interest?”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and media aide to the Rivers State Governor, Jerry Omatsogunwa, said the decision of the police to withdraw from the election would not make any difference.

He stated, “I think all the elections that have been happening in this country, there is always tension. You saw what happened in Edo State and all the shenanigans; the police were there and all those things happened.

“Even all the serious violence that has been happening in elections, they have always been there. So, why not do something different to see if this one will be far better than the ones we have been seeing before? So, for me, the police not participating has no effect.

“Don’t also forget that the citizens have a right. Citizens can arrest criminals and hand them over to the police. “But, I also hope that the police are not telling us that tomorrow is a crime-free day that anything can just happen and nobody will be prosecuted because they are the ones that lay the foundation for anything like that to happen.”

Our correspondent gathered that the APC, led by Chief Tony Okocha, and the PDP, led by Chukwuemeka Aaromin, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, boycotted the election, citing lack of due process by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

NBA kicks against court ruling

Speaking with Saturday Punch, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said it was unheard of that a court would issue an order stopping the police from carrying out its primary duty.

He said, “Whatever be the purport of the orders, the police have a continuing duty to provide security for the purpose of River State. If the Rivers State electoral committee insists on going ahead with the election, the police have the duty to provide security and I find it strange that a court order suggests that the police should abandon their constitutional duty of providing security to the people of Nigeria.

“The police have an abiding and unending duty to provide security, whatever be the case in Rivers and that duty can never be suspended by the court and the duty of the police is to stay out of the political scene in Rivers and ensure the protection of lives and property in Rivers and ensure that if any person is insisting on going ahead with the election that there is no destruction of voting materials or destruction of lives and properties and that nobody is injured.

“The police have a duty and should be worried that a court will purport or allege to have ordered them not to do their duty because no court in any circumstance should grant such orders and it is an embarrassment for the rule of law if indeed it is true for a court to have ordered that the police should not provide security.

“If indeed that order was made, then it is evidence of rascality and invitation to break down of law and order and no self-respecting police should rely on such an order to abdicate from his responsibility.”

Tension in Rivers

Early Friday morning, some men said to be dressed in police unform were alleged to have invaded the headquarters of the RSIEC.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the men were allegedly deployed from a neigbhouring state, as one of the trucks that conveyed them bore the name of the state that donated the vehicle.

Our correspondent, who was at the RSIEC headquarters along Aba Road, observed that some of the men had no knowledge of the city as they were cited with household property.

A source said, “The men, who were in police uniform, did not know why they were coming to Port Harcourt. They were seen with mattresses and cooking utensils. So, it looked like they came with the intention for election duty but those behind the deployment obviously have other reasons.

“As you know, the police said clearly that it would enforce the Federal Court order against the RSIEC. This means they will neither participate in the election nor provide security. The police even advise other security agencies to follow suit by not providing security.”

It was, however, gathered that a group of youths arrived at the scene later and chased the men out of the area.

Election must hold – Fubara

Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, should be held responsible if anarchy broke out in the state.

Fubara, while speaking to journalists at the Government House, Port Harcourt, in reaction to the attack on the RSIEC office, also accused the Nigeria Police Force of serving the interest of an Abuja-based politician to scuttle the planned election.

He said an already scheduled local government election, barely hours away, could not be stopped or truncated because a particular person did not want it conducted.

The governor said the police had been informed and were expected to discharge their statutory professional security duties, particularly because the court also directed so in its judgement on the election.

He said, “In the early hours of this morning (Friday), I got a security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission office has been invaded by the Nigeria 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 was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force, both the Rivers State Command and the headquarters in Abuja, to steal the electoral materials. But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.”

Fubara also questioned why the police allegedly allowed their officers to engage in illegal acts that suggested that they had become enemies of the state.

“Here are the questions: first, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, is it 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?”

Responding to questions from journalists, the governor said the state government sent a copy of the court judgement mandating that the election should hold to the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, Director, DSS, and other security agencies, which he believed had been communicated to the President.

“On the aspect of the police withdrawing their services, I don’t think the police (are) supposed to be part of the election process. What the police should do is to protect lives and property, ensure that nobody comes to cause a fight or burn people’s property.

“In fact, police don’t need to be close to the polling units or the voting centres. What is important is for them to ensure that the lives of the people of Rivers State are protected, and their properties are protected.

“On the issue of the election, I don’t think if they withdraw their services, it is going to mar the process. Not at all!

“So, if the police are not providing (security), I strongly believe that some other agencies will provide security for the election,” he added.

Protesters demand council election

Meanwhile, angry protesters defied the heavy rainfall and marched to the RSIEC office, singing and chanting, ‘election must hold’.

The protesters, believed to be supporters of the governor, mounted canopies, while singing and drumming, with one side of the road blocked by security operatives.

The protesters also called on the police to leave the state if they were tired of doing their job.

Expressing his anger over plans of the Rivers State Police Command to stop the voting exercise on Saturday, Fubara also said, “Keep your security, I do not need it. It happened in Anambra State. This election must be held on Saturday. The result will be declared, the winners will be sworn in.”

Meanwhile, the RSIEC denied reports on social media that its Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), resigned his appointment.

The RSIEC Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education, Tamunotonye Tobins, described it as the handiwork of mischief makers.

PUNCH