The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Thursday that police officers would remain stationed at Rivers State Local Government secretariats until the court resolves the ongoing tenure extension dispute involving local government chairmen.
On Tuesday, a clash in Port Harcourt, the state capital, over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen resulted in the deaths of a police officer and a vigilante member.
The three-year terms of the 23 LG chairmen ended on Monday, but they insisted on remaining in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 enacted by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
This law, passed by 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, allows the chairmen to stay in office for an additional six months due to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to hold local government elections.
On Wednesday, Fubara swore in 23 caretaker committee chairmen in Port Harcourt to manage the LGs after protesting youths dislodged the LG chairmen whose tenure had expired.
However, the police denied Fubara’s caretaker chairmen access to their offices across the LGAs.
The state police command announced on Tuesday that it had taken control of all LG council headquarters to prevent further bloodshed and maintain law and order.
During a meeting with commanders in Abuja, the IGP stated that the barricades would remain until the court issued a decision on the matter to prevent further loss of lives.
He said, “We are sad about the loss of a police inspector. We don’t want to lose more men or more citizens. We have a duty to prevent the breakdown of law and order. That’s why we have our men taking over the secretariat while we await the court’s decision.”
In contrast, Rivers Governor Fubara insisted on Thursday that there was no crisis in the state. Speaking to newsmen in Egbelu Community, he stated, “Rivers State is peaceful.
We are moving about inspecting projects, contrary to what is shown on TV that police are everywhere and that Rivers State is under siege. Our state is free and peaceful.”
The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disagreed with the IG’s decision to keep police at the LG secretariats.
Okaba stated, “The police have no business barricading the place, especially now that the governor has appointed a caretaker committee. The governor is the Chief Security Officer, and the Commissioner of Police should take orders from him. This situation could lead to bloodshed if not properly managed.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Society Organisation, Enefaa Georgewill, criticized the IG’s stance, noting that a high court ruling declared that the LG chairmen’s tenure had expired and that the House of Assembly could not extend their tenure.
Georgewill warned, “The police should not create a stalemate. We may have to mobilize our affiliates to demand that the police respect the court judgment and our constitution.”
The Rivers State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees issued a four-day ultimatum for the police to vacate the LGA secretariats, threatening protests if their demands were not met.
Rivers NULGE President Clifford Paul stated, “We request the police to vacate the gates so that workers can access their premises. We are giving them a four-day ultimatum.”
Additionally, the Human Rights Advocacy Crusaders called on law enforcement agents to remain neutral. Convener Jerry Nicholas stated,
“The law provides a three-year tenure for local government chairmen.
Security agents must remain neutral and not take sides, ensuring the rule of law is upheld and violence is prevented in Rivers State.”
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