Contention, controversies, agitations, accusations and counter-accusations trail the Rivers State Local Gogernment election of Saturday, October 5, 2024, even as the Governor Siminalayi Fubara takes over RSIEC office, daring the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to come to the state to shoot him
By Jude Nzennaya
Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, has insisted that nothing would stop the local government election in the state from holding.
Early Friday morning, October 4, 2024, Fubara had stormed the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Police operatives had barricaded the facility where electoral materials are kept.
Security operatives who were at the RSIEC office departed shortly after Fubara arrived at the building in the company of some lawmakers and government officials.
The Rivers police command had said its officers would not provide security for the election.
Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, said the command is complying with an order of the federal high court in Abuja.
Fubara said the presence of police officers at the RISEC premises was unnecessary.
The governor alleged that Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), was taking orders from Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“We came here this morning when we heard that the Nigeria police are coming to take over the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISEC). I had to come myself to find out why such a thing would happen,” Fubara said.
“I have to say this on a very strong note. We have been taking enough nonsense from this institution. Everybody is aware of the court judgment.
“Did the ruling specify anywhere that the election should not be held? It (judgment) said don’t give voter register. What are we doing with it? Police, don’t provide security. Is it the same thing as blocking the election?
“I don’t know what the relationship between the inspector-general of police and one person who claims he has so much power in this state. I don’t know the relationship because it is beginning to go beyond the normal professional relationship.
“Did the judgment of the federal high court say election should be barred? Rather, it tactically said don’t provide (security). We don’t need your security. We will provide our security.
“After all, it happened in Anambra. Go away with your security. But this election must hold. Whatever you want to do, do it. The election will be held, results will be declared, and people will be sworn in.”
Fubara said the only thing that could have stopped the election from holding as planned was only if he was shot by the IGP.
“When it comes to the issue of Rivers state, it becomes different. You are not ashamed of yourself. You call yourself inspector-general of police. Enough is enough. I will be here. This (RISEC) is my property. You don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering it. Just try it. That part of your history as a very wicked and fraudulent inspector-general will include shooting Fubara,” he said.
“I think I have given you enough respect. Let me tell all Rivers indigenes and everyone residing in Rivers state. The election will hold. Anything that wants to happen, let it happen.”
In the build up to the election, the state was embroiled in crisis due to the supremacy battle between Fubara and Wike.
The local government election is now being viewed in both camps as a referendum on who really controls the grassroots.
The Wike camp is seemingly opposed to the conduct of the election on Saturday.
On September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the 2023 voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The court also barred the inspector-general of police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the exercise.
On October 2, INEC said it had not released the voter register to RSIEC for the conduct of the election, in compliance with the verdict of the federal high court.
On October 3, a crowd besieged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, to protest against the planned local government election.
Despite the chaos, Fubara has vowed to proceed with the election and has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays.
Fubara, has vowed hold Egbetokun, responsible if there was any breakdown of law and order in state.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, on Friday, preceding the election day, Fubara warned the IGP to be conscious of his role as head of the police force.
The governor pointed out that the primary responsibility of the police is to protect lives and properties, not to barricade the premises of electoral body.
“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.”
