Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers State has issued a stern warning to Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police.
He revealed that Egbetokun will be held responsible if there is any breakdown of law and order in the state.
This statement followed an incident on Friday morning, where Fubara intervened at the Rivers Independent National Electoral Commission (RISEC) headquarters to thwart an alleged attempt by the police to seize election materials ahead of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday.
During a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Fubara expressed his dismay at the police’s presence at the RISEC office, stating that the primary duty of the police is to safeguard citizens and their property, rather than obstruct electoral processes.
He said he has received a security report he indicating that the RISEC office had been approached by police, which came as a shock since he had previously been informed that the officers assigned to guard the premises were being withdrawn.
Upon arriving at the site, Fubara met a group of intimidating police officers attempting to access the electoral commission’s office with several empty vans.
He described this maneuver as a coordinated effort by the police to steal election materials, which he successfully foiled.
“I am saying this here so that the IGP should be aware and just to know that any action that will bring a situation of lawlessness in this state and I think at the end of the day, he should be prepared to take responsibility.
“In the early hours of this morning I got a security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission office had 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 guiding the premises. So, I had to drive to the premises myself since the facility belongs to the Rivers State Government.”
“Getting to the scene and to the shock of everyone who escorted me there, I met the presence of some fierce looking policemen in one truck and three other empty vans trying to force their way into the premises. And I had to stop them.
“In the course of that process, we discovered that that movement was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force Command, both the Rivers Command and the Headquarter to steal the election materials. But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.
“Here are the questions. First, what is Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission? It is a facility, it is an agency, is a process that is controlled by the state government. It is a process, it is a system that it is the law of the state that governs. Why is the case of Rivers State different?
“The second part of it is what is the special thing about this issue of taking over the premises? If we should go by what they claim that they have a court order, the court ruling said don’t give RSIEC voters register, don’t give RSIEC police protection. Did the judgement says seal the premises, don’t allow them conduct election? However the Rivers State Government and the RSIEC itself also had a judgement that states clearly to conduct the election with the voters register of 2023.
“Police, DSS, Nigerian Army and other sister agencies should provide security. I might not be a lawyer but I understand clearly that when it comes to issue of judgment, there is something they call first in time. So what is this special interest about the Federal High Court judgment? Secondly why are they looking for a way to stampede this state?
