The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports that its officers sealed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, office.
Earlier reports suggested that the RSIEC secretariat in Port Harcourt had been closed following a Federal High Court order halting the local government elections set for October 5.
However, police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko clarified that the police presence at the RSIEC office was for security purposes only, in light of the ongoing October 1 protests in the state capital. “Our officers are stationed there to prevent potential attacks, not to interfere with the electoral process,” she explained.
Iringe-Koko urged journalists to verify information before publishing, cautioning against the spread of misinformation.
She also refuted claims that police officers had assaulted protesters during the #FearlessOctober march, stating that the officers maintained order without resorting to violence.
READ ALSO : Rivers LG poll faces setback as Court prevents INEC from releasing voters register
Despite the Federal High Court’s decision to halt the elections, RSIEC Chairman, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, asserted that the commission would proceed with the polls, citing a State High Court ruling that directed the elections to continue as scheduled.
Meanwhile, RSIEC, led by its Chairman, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, reaffirmed its commitment to proceeding with the scheduled local government elections, citing a State High Court ruling in support of the polls. This follows a Federal High Court order that had earlier restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from providing the 2023 voter register to RSIEC.
Contrary to speculations, Iringe-Koko reiterated that the police presence at RSIEC was ordered by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, solely to maintain peace during the protests and prevent any disruption at the electoral office.
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