Be Ashamed Of Yourself Fubara Tells Police Chief

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has criticized Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun over the issues surrounding local government elections in the state. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, Fubara suggested there is an inappropriate relationship between the IG and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara expressed his disappointment with the police for planning to withdraw security personnel, citing a court order that he claimed does not prohibit the elections. He argued that no court order explicitly states that local government elections cannot take place, pointing out that the order mentioned by the police only instructed them not to provide security. He added that the state could manage without police protection, referencing a similar situation in Anambra.

Fubara stated he is willing to confront the police and fight for the elections, declaring, “This is the last fight, and we will fight it to the end.”

Controversy has surrounded the elections since a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not release the 2023 voter register to the RSIEC. INEC confirmed it had not provided the register due to the court’s ruling. However, a Rivers State High Court ordered RSIEC to proceed with the local government elections set for October 5, stating that RSIEC must use the 2023 voters’ register.

The court emphasized the need for elections to fill vacant council positions within three months, following a Supreme Court ruling that mandated all states without elected local government councils to hold elections within that timeframe. Fubara has declared October 5 a public holiday and insists on conducting the elections to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive, warning that failing to do so would violate the court’s order and deny the state necessary allocations for its local government areas.