Rivers State Security Operatives Foil Attempt to Take Over Electoral Commission Office
In a dramatic turn of events, security operatives in Rivers State, Nigeria, thwarted an attempted takeover of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office by men dressed in police uniform in the early hours of Friday. The incident occurred around 1 am, with the would-be intruders attempting to scale the gates and strong room of the commission to steal sensitive electoral materials meant for Saturday’s local government election.
According to eyewitnesses, vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who promptly informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development. The governor, accompanied by a team of government officials, lawmakers, top political stakeholders, and other leaders, rushed to the scene to assess the situation.
Speaking to newsmen outside the RSIEC office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara condemned the incident and commended the security personnel for their quick response. He emphasized that local government elections are the internal affairs of states and advised those attempting to disrupt the process to allow the federation unit to conduct its affairs without interference.
The governor’s statement was echoed by another Government House source, who revealed that the governor advised those trying to truncate the electoral process to allow the federation unit to conduct its affairs without interference.
As the situation unfolds, government officials, stakeholders, and supporters are keeping vigil at the facility, ensuring the security and integrity of the electoral materials. Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful, as her mobile phone was not connecting.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the state, with many calling for increased security measures to prevent similar attempts in the future. As the local government election approaches, the people of Rivers State are eager to see a peaceful and successful exercise, free from interference and intimidation.
