THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) not to derail democracy in Rivers State by stopping the local government election scheduled for Saturday, October 5.
The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused “APC-controlled police” of trying to subvert the Rivers State local government area election, thereby violating the July 2024 Supreme Court’s ruling, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Constitution.
According to the party, the reported invasion of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) facilities by police operatives allegedly to frustrate the conduct of the election is a direct affront to democracy and the rule of law.
The PDP said the police and the All Progressives Party (APC) should note that the Rivers State people are peace-loving and law-abiding but would never allow anybody by whatever means “to stifle, abridge, appropriate, or subvert their will in choosing who governs them, particularly at the local government level.”
The PDP called on Nigerians and the international community to hold the APC and the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
“The Inspector General of Police should note that he is duty bound under the Constitution to provide the enabling and secure environment for the smooth conduct of the Rivers State local government area election irrespective of where he stands as an individual.
“Duty calls on him to act professionally in the overall interest of our hard-earned democracy and the stability of our nation, Nigeria,” the PDP stated.
The party charged the people of the state to firmly assert their constitutional rights by coming out en masse to vote in the election across the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 84(15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, provides that nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under the Act pending the determination of a suit.”.
“Our Party salutes the courage and steadfastness of the people of Rivers State in their determination to defend their rights to participate in the process of electing their leaders,” the PDP added.
It directed its members across the state to go out and participate in the poll.
The ICIR reported how the PDP members protested at the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command and the head office of the State Security Service (SSS) in the state on Thursday, October 3, against the election, urging RSIEC and Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s government to obey the Abuja court’s order stopping the poll.
Earlier today, The ICIR reported that the police withdrew from the local government election, following the ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not release the voters register to RSIEC and that the police must refrain from the election.
Meanwhile, Fubara has insisted that the election would be held.
Leading a team of his government officials and National Assembly members from the state to the RSIEC around 1 am on Friday, October 4, to foil an alleged attempted theft of sensitive electoral materials by some armed persons, Fubura blasted the police for backing out of the exercise.
He said, “Keep your security; I do not need it. It happened in Anambra State. This election must hold on Saturday. The result will be declared, and the winners will be sworn in.”
The APC members also vowed not to participate in the exercise.
Fubara, Wike’s rift worsens
The planned poll has further worsened the crisis between Fubura and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Both leaders belong to the PDP, but Wike is one of the leading cabinet members of President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The ICIR reports that Wike’s bid to control the PDP structure in the state has pitched him against a successor he helped to power.
The feud resulted in 27 out of the state’s 32 House of Assembly members defecting from the PDP to the APC.
Despite Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the impasse, the crisis has festered.
Multiple reports indicate that Fubara’s loyalists are vying for the LGA election on the All Peoples Party’s (APP) in a subtle move to defect from the PDP.
On Wednesday, October 2, The ICIR reported how Fubara declared a two-day public holiday for the poll.
Fubara said the holiday would enable the state’s people to travel to the communities where they would cast their ballots.
He also restricted human and vehicular movements in the state from midnight on Friday to 5 pm on Saturday.
A reporter with the ICIR
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