Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State firmly stated on Friday that the local government elections in the state will proceed as planned.
He also asserted that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, does not have the authority to prevent him from entering the premises of the state’s Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
Speaking at a gathering in Port Harcourt, the governor boldly proclaimed that the IGP would have to use force to stop him from accessing the RSIEC premises.
Fubara said: “When it comes to the issue of Rivers State it becomes different, you are not ashamed to call yourself Inspector General of Police. Enough is enough, I will be here and if I go back and if I hear anybody complain, I will come here because this is my property.
“You don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering.
“Try it and part of your history as a wicked IGP would include shooting Fubara. I think that I have given you enough respect and to all Rivers indigenes, elections must hold; anything that wants to happen should happen.”
The Rivers State Police Command had vowed not to allow the Local Government Election scheduled for Saturday to go on.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko titled ‘Proposed October 5th, 2024 Local Government Chairman Election’, the Command confirmed being in receipt of a restraining order preventing the police from providing security during the LGA elections.
The Command also said it is aware of the 30th September 2024 judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court which barred the Police Force from participating in the election.
The statement further added that the Force Legal Department has advised that the court ruling takes precedence
