The Rivers State Police Command has announced that it will fully comply with a Federal High Court ruling, which bars it from participating in the local government election scheduled for October 5, 2024. This decision follows the court’s directive, which was reinforced in a recent judgment.
The announcement came shortly after a protest led by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, including the state chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka. The protesters called on security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Rivers State Police Command, to respect the court order and withdraw from the election. During the protest, Chukwuemeka submitted a petition and a copy of the court ruling to officials of both agencies, demanding adherence to the law.
The Rivers State Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed its intention to follow the court’s ruling. Iringe-Koko explained that while the police would not participate in election-related duties as directed by the court, the force would remain vigilant to ensure that law and order are upheld, especially in the event of potential security threats.
“The Nigeria Police Force seeks to inform all law-abiding citizens and stakeholders in Rivers State about the upcoming local government election, particularly in light of recent court rulings,” the statement read. “On July 19, 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order preventing the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from providing security during the local government election. Additionally, on September 30, 2024, the Federal High Court reaffirmed this order.”
The police spokesperson further emphasized that the Force Legal Department had advised the command to prioritize compliance with the court’s September 30 ruling, which prohibits the police from participating in any capacity in the election. She assured the public that despite the withdrawal of the police from election-related activities, the command would take all necessary steps to prevent any breaches of peace during the period.
“We encourage all parties to seek appropriate legal redress if they feel aggrieved by any decisions or actions related to the election process,” Iringe-Koko added. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to maintaining law and order. All Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders have been directed to ensure full compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court.”
The police also called on other security agencies to respect the court ruling and urged citizens to remain peaceful and cooperate with law enforcement to uphold the rule of law during the election period.
