Nigeria’s Rivers State Governor Foils Police Plot to Disrupt Local Election
A dramatic incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday, October 4, 2024, when Nigerian Police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), attempted to take control of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). However, the plot was thwarted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who promptly mobilized a team of government officials, lawmakers, and political stakeholders to foil the unauthorized operation.
According to a statement signed by Nelson Chukwudi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the police deployment was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. The plan was to scale the gates and break into the strong room of the Commission to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the Saturday local government election.
But Fubara’s swift intervention foiled the plans, as alert security officials notified principal officers of the Commission and government authorities, who promptly informed the Governor. The statement added that Fubara condemned the actions of the rogue policemen, stating that “the IGP was taking his friendship with certain Abuja-based politicians too far.”
Fubara also reiterated that the attempt to secretly withdraw policemen already assigned to secure the facility and replace them with a detachment from a neighboring state was unacceptable. He reminded the IGP that local government elections are the internal affairs of the states, urging him to allow each federation unit to manage its own affairs without interference.
To prevent further attempts, the Chief of Staff, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of both the State and National Assembly, and other stakeholders are guarding the RSIEC office. The statement concluded that the election will proceed as scheduled on Saturday.
Fubara’s swift action has been met with praise from many Nigerians, who view it as a bold step towards ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. As Nigeria gears up for local elections, this incident serves as a reminder of the need for effective governance and adherence to the rule of law.
