Rivers LG Elections In Turmoil: No Police, Voters Left Unprotected

Voting has officially kicked off in the local government elections across Rivers State, with some voters casting their ballots while others wait for election materials to arrive. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) began distributing sensitive materials to various local government areas (LGAs) earlier today, despite a federal high court ruling that barred the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies from providing protection during the polls.

On September 30, a federal high court in Abuja issued an order prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from handing over the 2023 voter register to RSIEC. The court also restricted the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the elections.

INEC reaffirmed on October 2 that it had not shared the voter register with RSIEC, following the court’s directive. However, RSIEC countered by claiming that it had received the voter register from INEC last year, highlighting a conflict between the two organizations.

Despite these legal challenges, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has maintained that the RSIEC will move forward with the elections, stating that the court order does not halt the electoral process.

Early Friday morning, Governor Fubara arrived at the RSIEC office in Port Harcourt amid reports that police officers were attempting to obstruct the elections by barricading the premises where electoral materials were stored. Fubara criticized the police’s presence, accusing the Inspector-General of Police of acting under instructions from Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to disrupt the election.

The NPF, however, defended its actions in Rivers State, stating that it was acting in accordance with the federal court’s ruling and reaffirming its commitment to upholding the law.

These local government elections are seen as a significant test of grassroots political control in Rivers State. The political atmosphere remains tense, as factions loyal to both Wike and Fubara have shown strong opposition, raising the stakes for this critical electoral contest.