THERE is tension in the polity as four states- Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue and Jigawa hold local council elections, today.
•Fubara accuses IGP, Police of bias, insists on today’s balloting•Governor Eno, Senate President Akpabio brag in A/Ibom
The Police, citing court orders, have said they would not provide security services in Rivers and urged other security agencies to do the same. In Benue, leaders of the ruling APC and main opposition PDP are locked in a testy duel that could be dress rehearsal for 2027 general polls. The Governor said the already scheduled Local Government election, barely hours away, cannot be stopped or truncated because a particular person does not want it conducted. He said that everything that needed to be done about the electoral process legally, security wise and logistically, including the voters, have been finalised and voters sentisitised because of their high confidence levels.
Governor Fubara questioned how so low the Nigeria Police stooped, allowing their officers to engage in such illegal acts that clearly suggested that they had become enemies of Rivers State. The Governor stated that among all the security agencies, the Nigeria Police was the only one acting so strangely and have become a threat to the nation’s democracy.
“Is it not better”, the Governor said, “If you feel aggrieved, and don’t want to participate in the election that you should go to court? Why do you want to stop the process of election, to create problem, and anarchy in the state? We are already complaining of suffering, people are hungry, and you want to stampede the local government civil servants in the state.”
“I just want you to know that we are prepared. Once in the lifetime of every man, you need to stand on the side of truth, and even if it will take your life, history will not forget you,” he added. “The court order bars the police from allowing, participating in, providing security for, or taking part in the local government council elections. Therefore, all area commanders, divisional police officers, and tactical commanders have been instructed to fully comply with the Federal High Court’s judgement,” she stated. She further urged other security agencies to observe the court’s ruling
Okere Nnamdi, the group’s convener, clarified that the court was not a court of general jurisdiction but rather a court of special jurisdiction. He explained, “The court’s jurisdiction is outlined in Section 2, Subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution. RSIEC is not a Federal Government agency but an agency of the Rivers State Government. Therefore, the Federal High Court cannot issue an injunctive order to stop RSIEC from conducting local government elections”.
Falana argued that since a notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution have been filed, parties should not take steps that may frustrate the hearing of the motion. “The Party maintains that the people of Rivers State are ready for election; the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had also announced its readiness, preparedness and possession of necessary operational materials to conduct the election in line with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court and no court under the Electoral Act 2022 has power to stop elections.
“The PDP calls on Nigerians and the International Community to hold the APC and the Inspector General of Police responsible should there be any breakdown of Law and Order in Rivers State at this time. The Inspector General of Police should note that he is duty bound under the Constitution to provide the enabling and secure environment for the smooth conduct of the Rivers State Local Government Area election irrespective of where he stands as an individual.
He commended the Nigerian Police for standing by the Federal High Court judgment, cautioning that announcing election results despite the suspension would be considered an invitation to violence. With Governor Eno and Senator Akpabio carrying the weight of their respective parties on their shoulders, it was a dramatic show of force in the campaigns heading to the election.
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