Rivers Election:NPF Action Aligns With Court Order, Remains Politically Neutral
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has expressed concerns over recent statements by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in which he leveled several accusations against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the NPF.
In light of these claims, NPF says it is crucial to provide clarity and set the record straight highlighting that a Federal High Court order currently prevents the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State elections.
It noted that both the NPF and the Rivers State Government were duly served with the court directive which acting in compliance with the law, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to strictly adhere to the order, ensuring that the Police refrained from any direct involvement in the electoral process.
However, on the evening of October 3rd, 2024, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State received reports that officers from the Government House had been deployed to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) office to assist with the election.
This information was immediately communicated to the IGP, who authorised the Commissioner to withdraw those officers and replace them with personnel from the Command’s Operations Department. The role of these officers was to provide overnight security for the RIEC office and prevent any potential attacks on the facility.
It also noted that the state had experienced a series of security breaches, driven by multiple court orders, counter-orders, and the heated responses from supporters of the political parties involved which informed, the decision to secure the RIEC office ad it was both professional and well-informed, reflecting intelligence available to the State Command.
The deployment of officers from the Operations Department on the night of October 3rd, 2024, was strictly to safeguard the RIEC office from potential threats, and the Nigeria Police Force acted swiftly and decisively in fulfilling its responsibility to maintain public safety.
The NPF wondered how the Rivers State Governor would storm the RIEC office late at night, hurling unfounded accusations at police officers lawfully performing their duties saying that his public disparagement of the Police Force, including offensive remarks about the Inspector-General, is highly inappropriate and unwarranted.
The NPF firmly rejects the allegations terming them baseless and urged all political actors to maintain decorum and respect for public institutions refrain from inciting violence, threatening bloodshed, or calling for the destruction of property over a local government election
