By Kolawole Ojebisi
Rivers State governor, Sir Similanayi Fubara, has said he received a copy of signal from the police headquarters withdrawing the police officers guarding the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) prior to the attempted forceful entry into the commission’s office this morning.
Fubara noted that no reason was given by the Nigeria Police Force for taking that decision considering the pervading tense atmosphere in the state.
The governor disclosed this while speaking at a press conference in Port-Harcourt on Friday.
Fubara, who was visibly angry, vowed to hold Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector- General of Police, responsible if there is breakdown of law and order in state.
He said it’s a case of misplaced priority for men of the Nigeria Police Force to leave their primary duty of protecting lives and property for barricading the premises of an electoral body.
According to Fubara, the RSIEC office is a property of the state and it’s his duty to decide who to do what around it.
He stressed that the police officers’ presence around the facility was without a permit or permission from the appropriate quarters
The New Diplomat had reported how Fubara stormed the head office of the Rivers Independent National Electoral Commission (RISEC) in the early hours of Friday to prevent an attempted forceful entry into the facility.
It’s alleged that the purpose of the forceful move was to cart away materials for Saturday’s Local Government election.
“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?
“Why is the case of Rivers different? Is it that the law or the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria when it comes to Rivers State it’s interpreted in different way? Local government is the affairs of the state government there is no federal institutions can dictate in any form the way and manner our local government system should operate talk less of coming to tell us that we cannot hold election or otherwise. So, I have gathered you this morning to inform you that any attempt by anyone or any security agencies to stop this election, we are prepared to make sure that we resist it.”
There is a raging battle for supremacy between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, in the state
The battle has fragmented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into two fierce camps. One camp is for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory while the other is for incumbent governor.
The pro-Wike camp appears to be “anti-LG elections” while the Fubara group is “pro-LG elections”.
Each camps is doing everything within its powers to ensure it has its way and comes out triumphant in the supremacy battle.
However, there was a twist to the plot of the drama on early Friday morning when some men dressed in police uniform attempted to forcefully gain entry into the premises of the RSIEC.
Though the attempt was botched, it’s alleged that it was a move to cart away electoral materials from the commission’s office
