The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, challenged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to authorize his shooting if that is what it takes to guarantee a fair local government election.
This statement followed an incident where Governor Fubara confronted a group of police officers reportedly trying to close the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) offices on Friday morning.
As a reminder, the police, referencing a decision from the Federal High Court, declared the withdrawal of their officers from the election set for Saturday.
While addressing the media at the RSIEC headquarters, Governor Fubara criticized the IGP for what he perceived as bias, suggesting that the police head was showing undue allegiance to the FCT Minister.
Governor Fubara maintained that his choice to hold the election is supported by a Supreme Court decision that prohibits caretaker committees in Local Government Areas.
The governor vowed, “Keep your security, I do not need it. It happened in Anambara State. This election must hold on Saturday. The result will be declared, the winners will be sworn in.”
He added, “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 do not 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.”
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