A political standoff between Governor Fubara and former Governor Wike unfolds as Rivers conducts its LG elections. Explore the key issues fueling the confrontation.
Tensions are rising in Rivers State as the camps of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), prepare for a heated confrontation over Saturday’s local government elections.
As of Saturday morning, election materials were being distributed to polling units statewide. However, uncertainty remains about the election’s progression due to conflicting signals from various sources.
While the National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) advocates for participation in the election, the Rivers State chapter, which is aligned with Wike, has encouraged party members to refrain from voting.
The police announced, referencing court orders, that they would not offer security for the election and encouraged other agencies to do likewise. Governor Fubara accused the police of bias but maintained that the election would go ahead as scheduled.
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Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) confirmed its dedication to holding the election despite legal challenges.
In the meantime, the Action People’s Party (APP) distanced itself from a faction asserting leadership within the state and expressed support for RSIEC’s decision to move forward with the elections.
Governor Fubara also alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, along with the Nigeria Police Force were colluding with an “Abuja-based politician” to undermine the election.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the governor stated that the election would not be stopped just because one person was against it. He emphasized that all arrangements, such as security and logistics, were finalized and that voters were fully prepared to cast their ballots.
Fubara claimed that the police had even tried to raid the RSIEC headquarters in an effort to confiscate sensitive election materials.
He expressed shock at how extensively the security forces were involved in undermining the democratic process, stating that the police had become adversaries of the state.
The governor raised several critical questions, challenging the police’s actions and questioning why Rivers State was being treated differently from other states.
He referenced the Supreme Court decision mandating that local government elections be carried out by elected officials and mentioned that President Bola Tinubu had supported adherence to this court ruling in all states.
Governor Fubara acknowledged the challenges but assured the public that the election would proceed as scheduled, emphasizing that any security breaches would fall under the responsibility of the Inspector General of Police. He encouraged all parties to work together for a peaceful election and urged unity in maintaining law and order.
In a related development, renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has addressed the Inspector General of Police with a letter urging the maintenance of law and order during the election period. He highlighted an ongoing appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging a court decision that prohibits its participation in the elections, warning against any actions that might compromise the legal proceedings.
