Fubara accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of overstepping his bounds due to alleged affiliations with certain Abuja-based politicians.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thwarted an alleged attempt by rogue policemen to break into the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office and steal sensitive electoral materials ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The incident occurred around 1 AM on Friday, October 4, when a group of policemen, reportedly led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), tried to gain access to the Commission’s gates and strong room.
The stolen materials were intended for use in the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5.
The plot was foiled when vigilant security personnel alerted principal officers of the Commission and other government authorities, who swiftly notified Governor Fubara of the unfolding situation.
Reacting promptly, Governor Fubara arrived at the RSIEC office on Aba Road, accompanied by top government officials, lawmakers from the National and State Assemblies, and key political stakeholders.
Addressing journalists at the scene, Governor Fubara expressed strong disapproval of the policemen’s actions, describing their presence as unauthorized. He accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of overstepping his bounds due to alleged affiliations with certain Abuja-based politicians.
Governor Fubara emphasized that the attempt to withdraw officers previously assigned to secure the RSIEC facility and replace them with a new detachment from a neighboring state was unacceptable. He reiterated that local government elections are a state matter and urged the IGP to respect the autonomy of the state in handling its electoral affairs.
“The IGP’s undue interference is unacceptable. This election is an internal affair of Rivers State, and the state should be allowed to conduct its business without interference,” Governor Fubara stated.
Present at the scene were the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, other members of the State and National Assemblies, and various stakeholders, who supported the Governor’s stance against the intrusion.
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