Police Explain Why They Won’t Participate In Rivers LG Elections

Police Explain Why They Won’t Participate In Rivers LG Elections

The Rivers State Police Command has announced its full compliance with a Federal High Court judgment that prohibits its participation in the local government election scheduled for October 5 in the state.

This decision follows a protest led by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including state party chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka, who called for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to respect the court order regarding the election. Protesters marched to the headquarters of the Department of State Services and the State Police Command in Port Harcourt, urging these agencies to refrain from interfering in the electoral process. Chukwuemeka submitted a petition and a copy of the judgment to officials at both locations.

Despite adhering to the court’s ruling, police representatives clarified that this does not mean they will ignore potential security breaches. Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command and a Superintendent of Police, issued a statement in Port Harcourt explaining the situation.

Iringe-Koko indicated that the decision to abstain from the election is based on directives from the Force Legal Department, which emphasizes that the ruling from the Federal High Court on September 30, 2024, is binding.

She noted, “The Nigeria Police Force aims to inform all law-abiding citizens and stakeholders in Rivers State about the upcoming local government election, particularly concerning the recent court rulings.”

The statement referenced a July 19, 2024, Federal High Court restraining order that barred the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from providing security during the local government election. It reiterated that the ruling from September 30 also prohibits police participation in the election.

In light of the protests from opposition parties demanding adherence to the court orders, the police encouraged individuals to seek legal remedies if they feel wronged by any actions related to the election.

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to maintaining law and order and will not overlook any potential disturbances. All Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the Federal High Court’s judgment.

The statement concluded, “Given these developments, the Nigeria Police Force emphasizes the importance of peace and order, urging all citizens to cooperate with law enforcement to uphold the rule of law during this critical time.”