Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said he stormed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at 01:00 A.M on Friday, to stop the State Police from taking over the premises.
A video showed the governor in the company of his entourage, entering the premises of the RSIEC, while some men were seen alleging that the policemen were attempting to scale through the gates and strong room of the commission to allegedly cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s Local Government elections in the state.
Fubara and his team comprising the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and State and National Assembly members, alongside other stakeholders, were seen manning the RSIEC office.
Some unspecified number of policemen were also sighted inside two trucks and two Hilux vehicles.
The footage also saw Governor Fubara in the company of some lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders storming the facility.
Journalists could hear voices in the background shouting “Move this thing! Illegal police! Illegal police! Thief! Thief!”
Some men at the scene were also seen physically hitting the vehicles lined up inside the RSIEC office, shouting that they vacate the premises.
In a statement by the Rivers State Police Command on Wednesday, Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko titled ‘Proposed October 5th, 2024 Local Government Chairman Election, said the police received a restraining order preventing them from providing security during the LGA elections.
spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko titled ‘Proposed October 5th, 2024 Local Government Chairman Election.
In the statement, the police confirmed being in receipt of a restraining order preventing them from providing security during the LGA elections.
The development follows Fubara saying he regretted that his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will not be taking part in the October 5 Local Government Election in the state.
Governor Fubara stated this on Thursday during a meeting with some stakeholders of the party at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said the election has to be held on Saturday to comply with the three months of grace given by the Federal Government to begin the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on Local Government autonomy.
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