Governor Fubara Firmly Warns IGP, Wike Against Attempt to Undermine Local Government Election

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has firmly warned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and former governor turned FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, against the attempt to undermine the state’s local government election slated for Saturday, October 5, 2024.

Fubara disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Friday, addressing the alleged police takeover of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) office.

This was as Governor Fubara stormed the facility with his team, including government officials, federal and state lawmakers, top political stakeholders, and other leaders.

According to Fubara, preliminary findings revealed that an unnamed “TC of Operation” of the Rivers State Police Command brought officers to withdraw other force officers at the RSIEC office so that the newly brought officers could replace them.

We’ve been taking enough nonsense from this [NPF] institution as everyone is aware of the court ruling. Did the court judgment specify ‘anywhere’ that election should not hold,” Fubara questioned.

“The judge specified in his ruling that INEC should not give voters’ registers to RSIEC and the NPF not to provide security?” Fubara added.

Fubara further questioned, “Is it the same thing as blocking the election”?

Fubara then inferred, stating, “I don’t know the relationship between IGP and one person [Wike] who claims to have so much power in Rivers State,” adding, “It is beginning to go beyond a professional relationship.”

The court ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Monday, September 30, 2024, in a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, barred the police from providing security for the scheduled local government election on the grounds that the election did not meet all relevant laws guiding local elections. Read full ruling here.

In response, Fubara said, “We don’t need your security, we’d provide our own security,” adding, “This election must hold,” as he warned the Inspector-General of Police.

“Your [IGP] wicked and fraudulent history will include shooting Fubara,” the governor stated, urging residents of the state to remain calm for Saturday’s election.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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