Reports that the Rivers State Police Command’s agents had barricaded the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s headquarters to prevent them from holding the local government council elections on Saturday have been denied.
The police stated that their agents were present to uphold law and order and pointed out that the report was untrue.
Tuesday, some highly armed officers had blocked off the RSIEC office in Port Harcourt while the police dispersed youths who were assembling to begin the planned protest throughout the state.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was prevented from providing RSIEC with the voter registration utilised in the 2023 elections by the Federal High Court, which was presiding over the case and seated in Abuja and chaired by Peter Lifu.
On Tuesday, there were rumours that the police mobilisation at the RSIEC office was intended to prevent the election from taking place on Saturday. However, police quickly disputed the story, stating that their troops were there to prevent a breakdown in law and order.
In response to reports on various internet platforms that the RSIEC office had been sealed by the police, the Command’s public relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, superintendent of police, clarified that the police officers spotted at the RSIEC office were there per Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu’s order.
Iringe-Koko advised people to always confirm their facts before going to press, adding that the police officers were there to defend the facility against any attacks during the ongoing statewide protest in Port Harcourt.
She went on to say that there is no truth to the accusation that police assaulted and beat up certain demonstrators that has been circulated on several social media platforms.
In Essence
The denial by the Rivers State Police Command regarding the alleged barricade of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) headquarters reflects the complexities surrounding local government elections in Nigeria.
The tension in Rivers State, highlighted by the police presence at the RSIEC office and the dispersal of protesters, underscores the sensitive nature of electoral processes in the country, particularly at the local level.
The police’s explanation that their presence was to prevent a breakdown of law and order rather than to halt the elections is significant in a state like Rivers, where political tensions often run high.
The involvement of the Federal High Court in preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voter registration list to RSIEC adds another layer of legal complexity to the situation.
It suggests there are unresolved legal or administrative issues that could affect the credibility and timing of the local government polls.
