Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, thwarted an attempt by Nigerian Police to take over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) early Friday morning, October 4, 2024 ¹ ² ³. The police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), tried to break into the RSIEC office at 1 AM to steal sensitive electoral materials for the local government elections scheduled for Saturday.
Governor Fubara promptly responded to the situation, leading a team of government officials, lawmakers, and political stakeholders to the facility. He condemned the police action, accusing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of partisanship and excessive loyalty to the FCT Minister ¹[2).
Fubara emphasized that the Supreme Court ruling outlawing caretaker committees in Local Government Areas validates his decision to conduct the election. “Keep your security, I do not need it. It happened in Anambara State. This election must hold on Saturday. The result will be declared, the winners will be sworn in,” he vowed ¹[2).
The governor’s swift action prevented potential disruption to the electoral process, ensuring the integrity of the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State.