Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has made a bold declaration regarding the state’s upcoming local government election, insisting it will proceed as planned despite opposition. Fubara challenged Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, stating that no one, including the IGP, could stop him from accessing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) premises.
Addressing a gathering in Port Harcourt, Fubara remarked, “When it comes to the issue of Rivers State, it becomes different. You are not ashamed to call yourself Inspector General of Police. Enough is enough.” The governor went on to say that if the IGP attempted to bar his entry into RSIEC, “part of your history as a wicked IGP would include shooting Fubara.”
The tension escalated as the Rivers State Police Command, in a statement signed by spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed its receipt of a court order preventing police involvement in the election scheduled for Saturday. The Command cited a September 30, 2024, judgment from an Abuja Federal High Court, which barred police from providing security for the election.
Governor Fubara, however, vowed that the elections would proceed, stating, “elections must hold; anything that wants to happen should happen.” The legal standoff leaves the future of the Rivers local government elections in uncertainty, as both the court’s ruling and the governor’s determination clash.
The police, following legal advice, have adhered to the court’s decision, signaling their refusal to provide security during the election, despite the governor’s firm stance.
