Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has thwarted attempts break into the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office in Port Harcourt to remove materials meant for Saturday’s local government election.
It was learnt that Policemen allegedly deployed from neighboring Abia State reportedly stormed the place early Friday morning.
Fubara led his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Fubara, Victor Oko Jumb; National Assembly members loyal to the governor, to RSIEC office to foil the operation.
It was learnt that police men led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) at the Rivers Command had moved to RSIEC at about 1.00am on Friday.
Fubara’s spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi, in a statement on Friday in Port Harcourt alleged that the ’visiting’ policemen wanted to enter through the gates and strong room of the Commission to take away sensitive electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the State.
He accused the Inspector-General of Police of ordering the deployment.
“However, the evil plots of the 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,” Nelson stated.
Fubara said the conduct was condemnable, saying the IGP was taking his friendship with some Abuja-based politicians too far.
He said withdrawing policemen already deployed to protect the facility, and replacing them with a detachment from a neighbouring state was unacceptable.
The governor told the IGP that local government elections were the internal affairs of states, and advised him to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.
Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident.
