Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara expressed his strong discontent with Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun after an incident involving armed police officers at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) office early Friday morning.
Arriving at the RISIEC premises with government officials around 1 a.m., Fubara reacted to reports that police had taken control of the facility.
He alleged that a Deputy Commissioner of Operations had withdrawn the officers originally tasked with protecting the office, allowing another police team to assume control.
The governor accused the police of overstepping their authority in this situation.
Fubara highlighted a recent court ruling, clarifying that it did not prevent elections from occurring but merely restricted access to the voter register.
Undeterred, he affirmed that the elections would go ahead as planned, stating that they would proceed even without police security.
The Governor said: “We came here this morning when we heard according to what they called themselves, the Nigerian police, are coming to take over the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and I had to come myself to find out why will such a thing happen.
“What I heard is that one DC Operation brought them here. He withdrew policemen that were already here protecting this place so that ill officers will take over the place.
“But I have to say this on a very strong note. We have been taking enough nonsense from this institution. Everybody is aware of the court judgement. Did the ruling specify anywhere that election should not hold?
“It said don’t give voter register. What are we doing with it? Police don’t provide security. Is it the same thing as blocking the election? I don’t know what the relationship is between the IGP and one person who claims he has so much power in the state.
“I don’t know the relationship because it is beginning to go beyond the normal professional relationship. I said the government wrote a letter with the judgement that we have to him and what he is acting on is what he called the judgement he got from the Federal High Court.
“Even if we go by the Federal High Court judgement did it say election should be banned? Did Lifu, that judge, that gave that fraudulent judgement say no election. Rather he technically said don’t provide, don’t provide security.
“We don’t need your security. We will provide our own security. After all it happened in Anambra. This election must hold. If you like whatever you want to do, do it. The election must hold, results will be declared and people will be sworn in.
“What kind of country is this? And when it comes to the issue of Rivers State it becomes different .
“You have to be ashamed of yourself you call yourself IGP. Enough is enough. If I go back and hear anything, I will come here. This is my property and you don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering it.
“Just try it and part of your history as a wicked and fraudulent IGP will include shooting Fubara. I think I have given you enough respect.
“Well let me say it to all Rivers indigenes everyone residing in Rivere, election will hold. Anything that wants to happen, let it happen.”
