Battle For Rivers: Fubara Foils Police Attempt To Stop LG Elections

By James Orji

“Enough is Enough. I have had enough of this nonsense. All because of one man. It has to stop. This election will hold. Results will be declared. And winners will be sworn-in” – Fubara

Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State has foiled an attempt by the State Police Command to cart away sensitive election materials from the office of the Rivers State Electoral Commission, RSIEC. This has raised the ante of the political crisis in the State, and tension has risen to high heavens.

The police, according to the State Government had planned to take over the premises of RSIEC in the uncivilised period of Friday.

The development comes barely 24 hours to the Local Government Election slated for October 5 by the State Government.

The Governor’s spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi, in a statement  issued on Friday said

some senior police officers had stormed the RSIEC in Port Harcourt to take away sensitive materials, but were promptly stopped form doing so by governor Fubara who led other top State Officials to the Office.

Chukwudi stated that the governor got wind of the Police plot to storm the RSIEC office in the wee hours of Friday, but quickly rallied other State Government officials including the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, his Chief of Staff, amongst others to barricade the office.

The governor’s aide said the ‘evil’ plot to ensure that tomorrow’s election did not hold had been thwarted by the State Government.

“The evil plots of the rogue policemen and DC Ops were botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed the governor of the development.

“The Governor immediately led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to storm the facility,” Chukwudi added.

The State Police Command has distanced itself from the Election, insisting it is in obedience of the order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Police ignored the order of  a Rivers State High Court which ordered that Election must go on.

An enraged but strong Governor Fubara who addressed the people in front of RSIEC office roared:

“They said DC Operation brought them here to withdraw the policemen that are already here protecting this place so that new officers will take over the place.

“But I have to say this on a very strong note. We’ve been taking enough nonsense from this institution.

“Everybody is aware of the Court judgment, and even the judgment as they call it, did the ruling specify anywhere that the election should not hold?”

“It said don’t give the voters register. What are we doing with it? Okay, police don’t provide security. Is it the same thing as blocking the election?

“I don’t know the relationship between the Inspector General of Police and one person who claims he has so much power in this state. I don’t know the relationship because it’s beginning to go beyond a professional relationship.

“We don’t need your security; we will provide our own security after all. It happened in Anambra. Go away with your security, but this election must hold. If you like, whatever you want to do, do it. Election would hold, people will be sworn in! I say it here.”

In an even more direct challenge to the federal police force, Fubara warned that he would personally return to the RSIEC office if any further attempts were made to interfere with the election.

“I will be there. In fact, if I go back and I hear anybody… I will come. This is my property, and you don’t have any right whatsoever to bar me from entering. Just try it, then part of your history as a very wicked and fraudulent Inspector General of Police will include shooting Fubara,” he declared. “I think I’ve given you enough respect.”

The governor concluded his fiery address by assuring the people of Rivers State that the elections would take place as scheduled.

“Let me say this to all Rivers indigene, everyone residing in Rivers State: Election will hold,” Fubara affirmed. “Election will hold. Anything that wants to happen, let it happen. So everybody just relax, nothing is happening. We know that this is going to be the last fight, and we’ll take it to the end.”

The tension-filled standoff has raised concerns over the conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State. With top officials, including members of the State and National Assemblies, stationed at the RSIEC office to maintain the peace, the situation remains closely monitored as the state prepares for Saturday’s polls.

The Saturday election is in the middle of  disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the FCT.

While the governor has vowed to press ahead with the election, citing the three months deadline issued by the Federal Government to State Government to conduct the Councils’ election in line with  the Supreme Court judgement, the Wike group are relying on the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, directing that the election be put on hold.

On Thursday, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, under the control of the FCT Minister,  staged protests across the state calling for the postponement of the election in line with the court’s order.

Fubara and Wike were once political allies who have now gone their separate ways in the quest to control the political soul of the State.

Recall that Fubara rode on Wike’s back to the government house but has now turned his back on the former governor to avoid being “suffocated.”