Police Explain Non-Participation In Rivers LG Election
The Rivers State Police Command has announced its full compliance with a Federal High Court ruling barring its involvement in the October 5 local government election. The court order prohibits the police and other security agencies from participating in or providing security for the election, a directive that has sparked protests from members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The protest, led by PDP state chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka, saw party officials and supporters march to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Rivers State Police Command headquarters in Port Harcourt. They submitted a petition and a copy of the court ruling, demanding adherence to the judgment. Chukwuemeka and his supporters called on both agencies to respect the order and stay out of the election process.
In response, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, issued a statement reaffirming the command’s decision to comply with the court ruling. She noted that the Force Legal Department had reviewed two court judgments, including the one delivered on September 30, 2024, which takes precedence and directs police non-participation.
However, Iringe-Koko clarified that while the police would respect the court order, this did not mean they would allow any security breaches to occur during the election. The police remain committed to maintaining law and order and will act to prevent disturbances.
The statement emphasized that all police officers, including Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders, have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the court ruling. Additionally, the police urged other security agencies to follow the same directive and called on citizens to remain peaceful and cooperative with law enforcement throughout the election period.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law while encouraging aggrieved parties to seek legal redress if necessary.
