Early Friday, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State led a swift response to foil an alleged attempt to breach the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office in Port Harcourt. The incident, which occurred ahead of the local government elections set for Saturday, reportedly involved rogue police officers attempting to steal sensitive election materials.
The operation, allegedly directed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), was halted after vigilant security personnel alerted key state officials. Governor Fubara, accompanied by top officials including Chief of Staff Edison Ehie and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Victor Oko Jumbo, immediately intervened to prevent the raid.
According to reports, around 1 a.m., police officers from neighboring Abia State attempted to force their way into the RSIEC facility to seize election materials. Governor Fubara criticized the IGP’s involvement, accusing him of collaborating with politicians in Abuja and meddling in the state’s electoral process.
Speaking to reporters after the confrontation, Fubara emphasized that local government elections are under state jurisdiction, urging the IGP to respect the autonomy of Rivers State and cease interference in the federation’s internal affairs. The governor also expressed concern over the decision to withdraw local police guarding the RSIEC office and replace them with officers from another state.
The incident has raised tensions ahead of the local government elections, with Governor Fubara reaffirming his commitment to ensuring a fair and secure voting process in Rivers State.