The Nigerian Police Command in Rivers State have denied claims that its officers sealed off the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
Recall that there were earlier reports that the RSIEC secretariat in Port Harcourt, was sealed by operatives of the Police Force. This, the reports stated followed a Federal High Court order halting the local elections scheduled for 5 October.
But reacting to the reports, the police spokesperson in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, told journalists in Port Harcourt that the reports were false.
She pointed out that the police stationed some operatives at the RSIEC office to safeguard the premises.
Iringe-Koko stated that police acted protect the facility from potential attacks during the nationwide protest on 1 October in Port Harcourt.
“The police presence at the facility is strictly for security and not to interfere with the electoral process,” she said
The PPRO, therefore, urged reporters to verify any information before publication. This, she said, is to prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news.
Iringe-Koko also denied allegations that police officers assaulted protesters during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Rivers State in August.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that RSIEC said it would proceed with Saturday’s election. This is despite the Federal High Court’s ruling halting the conduct of the election.
The RSIEC Chairperson, Adolphus Enebeli, cited a ruling from the State High Court mandating the Commission to continue with the elections.
“Nyesom Wike and his loyalists want to stop the elections from taking place. While his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his loyalists want the elections to go on,” NAN said.
Recall that the former Governor and now Minister of FCT, Wike, has been engaged in a protracted fight with Governor Fubara. The duo are struggling for control over the political structure of Rivers State.
source: Premium Times
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