Following the brouhaha that occured after the Local government elections in River state, the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to protect local government secretariats in Rivers State against destruction by arsonists and vandals.
This was made known in a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga on Monday after rampaging hoodlums aggrieved with the outcome of Saturday LG poll burnt down some council secretariats in the state. He said:
“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,”
The President urged all political actors to address the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions while directing the police to maintain peace, law and order immediately.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
“President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”
The President noted that taking laws into one’s hands has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy, and that the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.
Background
After the election on Saturday, violent clashes had erupted in at least four local government areas—with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist the new council officials.
It is believed that the burning of the Local Government secretariats followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police.
Though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police opted out of the exercise that produced the newly elected LG chairmen, Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted that the election would be held on Saturday.
This is as a high court in Abuja ruled against INEC releasing the voters register to RSIEC for the LG elections, and stopping the police from providing security for the exercise.
After an exercise held amid heightened tension, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the state while the Action Alliance (AA) won a seat.
Fubara swore in the 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday but some of the LG bosses were attacked upon assumption of office on Monday. Some council secretariats were also set ablaze by political opponents.
