The Rivers State Police Command has declared that it will uphold a court order prohibiting the police from providing security for the upcoming local government elections in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday morning, the Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Grace Iringe-Koko, made it clear that the police would comply with the law, citing a Federal High Court judgment as the basis for their decision.
The court ruling, handed down on September 30, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Abuja, restrains the Nigeria Police Force from taking part in any security operations related to the elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024.
This latest development has further deepened the political tension in Rivers State, where Governor Siminialayi Fubara is determined to push ahead with the elections despite the legal hurdles and police refusal to cooperate.
Iringe-Koko explained in her statement that the police were bound by the law and had no choice but to respect the court’s decision.
She said, “The Rivers State Police Command is in receipt of a restraining order, preventing us from providing security during the local government elections scheduled for October 5th. This order stems from the Federal High Court’s ruling on the 30th of September, 2024, in Abuja.”
Iringe-Koko further stated that the police had consulted with their legal department, which advised that the court ruling takes precedence over any other considerations.
This means the police will not be present at polling units to ensure safety, a move that could leave the election vulnerable to violence or disruption.
The court order, which bars the police from involvement in the local government elections, followed a lawsuit filed by some political actors in the state, challenging the legality of the elections.
The plaintiffs argued that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) had not complied with federal laws in organizing the elections, particularly concerning the use of the national voter register.
As a result, the court issued a ruling preventing the police from providing security, effectively crippling the state’s ability to hold the elections as planned.
The opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is not aligned with Governor Fubara’s administration, has been particularly vocal about the need to adhere to the court ruling.
The party organized a protest march earlier this week, demanding that the state government respect the judgment and suspend the election.
During the protest, PDP leaders accused the state government of attempting to rig the elections by sidelining federal institutions, including the police.
Despite the police position and the court ruling, Governor Fubara remains determined to proceed with the elections.
Earlier this week, the governor made headlines with a fiery outburst against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), accusing the police of conspiring to disrupt the polls.
Fubara stormed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) office in the early hours of Friday, expressing his frustration over the police refusal to provide security.
He accused the IGP of playing politics and siding with forces intent on destabilizing the state.
“What kind of country is this? When it comes to the issue of Rivers State, everything becomes different,” the governor fumed, vowing that the elections would go ahead with or without police protection.
He also made it clear that the state government was prepared to provide its own security if the police failed to do so.
“We don’t need your security. We will provide our own. After all, it has happened in other states like Anambra,” Fubara said, in reference to instances where elections were conducted without police presence.
