In the early hours of Friday, October 4, 2024, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara led security forces to stop a dramatic attempt to steal sensitive electoral materials from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office.
This event occurred just hours before the state’s Local Government Elections, scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024.
The suspects, dressed in police uniforms, stormed the RSIEC office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt around 1:00 a.m. Their target was the strong room where sensitive election materials were stored.
These materials, crucial to the upcoming elections, would determine the fate of many political candidates across Rivers State.
The individuals attempted to breach the gates and seize the materials, which could have seriously disrupted the electoral process.
However, the quick response of alert security personnel helped prevent the robbery.
A source close to the scene revealed that the suspicious activities were detected early.
“Once we saw the unusual movement around the office, we knew something was wrong,” said the anonymous source.
Immediately after the alert, security officers in the area notified key officials, including Governor Fubara.
Without delay, Governor Fubara arrived at the scene, leading a team of government officials, lawmakers, and political stakeholders to prevent the raid.
By the time Fubara and his team arrived, the individuals attempting to cart away the election materials had been stopped, but the situation remained tense.
Governor Fubara addressed journalists at the scene shortly after the incident.
“This election is an internal state affair, and any attempt to disrupt it will not be tolerated,” he said sternly.
His comments reflected his firm commitment to a peaceful election process in Rivers State.
“We will not allow anyone to interfere with the process. The people of Rivers State have the right to choose their leaders freely and fairly, without any external interference,” the governor emphasised.
He praised the security operatives for their swift action and encouraged them to remain vigilant.
The Rivers State government had been making efforts to ensure that the elections would go smoothly.
However, this failed attempt to steal electoral materials raised concerns over the possibility of election rigging or manipulation.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen attempts to disrupt elections in this state,” a local political analyst commented.
He noted that Rivers State has had a history of electoral violence and interference, making this recent incident particularly troubling.
“There have been cases in the past where election materials were stolen or tampered with to alter the results,” the analyst continued.
The upcoming Local Government Election is seen as a crucial test of the state’s democratic process.
It comes at a time when there is growing tension between different political factions in Rivers State.
Many political stakeholders believe that the election is not just about local government positions but also about setting the stage for future political contests.
Governor Fubara’s quick intervention in this situation is likely to boost confidence among his supporters.
However, it also signals that tensions remain high in the lead-up to the election.
As of this morning, government officials and supporters have set up a vigil at the RSIEC office to ensure that no further attempts are made to steal or tamper with the election materials.
Political stakeholders are also closely watching the situation, calling for increased security at all polling stations across the state.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election,” one of the officials at the scene stated.
Despite this, the incident has cast a shadow over the election, raising questions about the preparedness of the state’s security forces to handle potential election-related violence or fraud.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, was unreachable for comment at the time of filing this report.
Her phone remained off, and efforts to reach her via text message were unsuccessful.
The role of the police in this attempted raid is also being questioned, given that the suspects were reportedly dressed in police uniforms.
While it is unclear whether the individuals involved were actual police officers or merely impersonators, the situation has raised concerns about the integrity of the security apparatus in Rivers State.
Some observers fear that corrupt elements within the police force may be aiding political operatives seeking to disrupt the election.
“If police officers are involved in this kind of criminal activity, it’s a big threat to democracy in Rivers State,” a concerned citizen said.
The RSIEC office, which plays a critical role in managing the electoral process in Rivers State, has now become a highly secured area.
There are reports that more security personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of the election materials and to prevent further incidents.
Rivers State has a long history of political violence and electoral misconduct.
Many elections in the past have been marred by violence, with candidates and their supporters clashing over issues of power and influence.
In 2019, for instance, Rivers State witnessed intense violence during the general elections, leading to the suspension of elections in certain areas.
The government, under Governor Fubara, has been working hard to change this narrative by promoting peace and transparency in the electoral process.
However, this latest attempt to steal election materials shows that old problems still persist.
As the state prepares for the Local Government Elections on Saturday, all eyes will be on the security forces to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Governor Fubara’s intervention may have averted a crisis for now, but the incident has left many wondering if further attempts to disrupt the election will follow.
