Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, early on Friday, following an incident at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) office.
The Governor, who arrived at the RISIEC premises at around 1 a.m. with government officials, was responding to reports that armed police officers had taken control of the electoral commission’s facility.
Governor Fubara was visibly upset and directly criticized the IGP for what he described as an unjustified police deployment.
According to the Governor, police officers stationed to safeguard the RISIEC office were withdrawn by a Deputy Commissioner of Operations, leaving room for another team of officers to take over.
Fubara expressed his frustration, accusing the police of overstepping their boundaries.
He further referenced a court ruling, emphasizing that it did not prohibit the holding of elections but only restricted access to the voter register.
Refusing to back down, Fubara asserted that the election would proceed as scheduled, even without police security.
The Governor said: “We came here this morning when we heard according to what they called themselves, the Nigerian police, are coming to take over the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and I had to come myself to find out why will such a thing happen.
“What I heard is that one DC Operation brought them here. He withdrew policemen that were already here protecting this place so that ill officers will take over the place.
“But I have to say this on a very strong note. We have been taking enough nonsense from this institution. Everybody is aware of the court judgement. Did the ruling specify anywhere that election should not hold?
“It said don’t give voter register. What are we doing with it? Police don’t provide security. Is it the same thing as blocking the election? I don’t know what the relationship is between the IGP and one person who claims he has so much power in the state.
“I don’t know the relationship because it is beginning to go beyond the normal professional relationship. I said the government wrote a letter with the judgement that we have to him and what he is acting on is what he called the judgement he got from the Federal High Court.
“Even if we go by the Federal High Court judgement did it say election should be banned? Did Lifu, that judge, that gave that fraudulent judgement say no election. Rather he technically said don’t provide, don’t provide security.
“We don’t need your security. We will provide our own security. After all it happened in Anambra. This election must hold. If you like whatever you want to do, do it. The election must hold, results will be declared and people will be sworn in.
“What kind of country is this? And when it comes to the issue of Rivers State it becomes different .
“You have to be ashamed of yourself you call yourself IGP. Enough is enough. If I go back and hear anything, I will come here. This is my property and you don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering it.
“Just try it and part of your history as a wicked and fraudulent IGP will include shooting Fubara. I think I have given you enough respect.
“Well let me say it to all Rivers indigenes everyone residing in Rivere, election will hold. Anything that wants to happen, let it happen.”