The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to ensure strict compliance with the court order, leading to the Force’s non-involvement in the election process.
The Nigeria Police Force has refuted allegations made by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, claiming that the police were unlawfully involved in the local government elections.
In a statement released on Friday, by the Police Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the Force clarified that a Federal High Court order bars their participation in the Rivers State election, and they have adhered to the ruling.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to ensure strict compliance with the court order, leading to the Force’s non-involvement in the election process.
This comes amid tensions in the state, with the Governor accusing the police of inappropriate conduct and criticising their presence at the Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) office during the night of October 3, 2024.
The police force, however, defended its actions, stating that officers were deployed to the RIEC office to protect it from potential attacks, based on intelligence received by the State Command.
He said the deployment was described as a proactive measure to maintain peace amidst rising security concerns during the election period.
The police condemned Governor Fubara’s accusations, calling his comments “unwarranted” and reaffirmed their commitment to the protection of lives and property, promising to continue collaborating with other security agencies to maintain peace in Rivers State.
The Force also condemned any threats of violence, emphasised that shedding blood or burning down the state due to political disputes is unacceptable.
The statement read, "Firstly, it is important to clarify that there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State elections. This order was duly served on both the NPF and the Rivers State Government. As a law-abiding institution, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to strictly adhere to this court order by refraining from any direct involvement in the election process.
"However, in the evening of 3rd October,2024, The commissioner of police Rivers State, received reports that policemen from Rivers State Government house have been deployed to the office of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) to aid the conduct of the election."
According to Adejobi, "This report was also relayed to the Inspector-General of Police who gave clearance to the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the policemen from the Government house and replace with policemen from the Command Operations department. The mandate of the men from the Operations Department, was to provide overnight security for the RIEC to prevent any attack on the facility.
"It is also important to note that prior to this, there had been series of security breaches in the state following the spate of court orders and counter orders and reactions to them by supporters of the different political parties involved."
He explained that the response of the Command to secure RIEC overnight was therefore professional and supported by the Inspector-General of Police.
"For emphasis sake, the policemen deployed to RIEC from the operations department of Rivers State Command on the night of 3rd October,2024 were with the sole mandate to protect the RIEC office from attack overnight."
Adejobi noted that the action was proactive and responsive to intelligence at the disposal of the State Command.
"It is therefore shocking to see the state governor storming the RIEC office at night, wrongly accusing the police on lawful duties, deriding the Police institution and using unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police.
"The Nigeria Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the Governor and particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals."
It said, "Threatening to shed blood and to burn down the State because of a Local Government election is not acceptable to us. The Nigeria Police Force is committed to protection of lives and properties and will work with other security agencies in Rivers State to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the state.
"To this end, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered increased deployment into Rivers State to beef up security throughout the state. Citizens of Rivers state are advised to go about their lawful businesses," Adejobi added.