Rivers govt officials, supporters keeping vigil at RSIEC’s office after foiled attempt to steal election materials
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Officials of the Rivers State Government along with supporters are currently keeping vigil at the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) following attempt by thugs to break in and steal election materials.
A contentions local government election is billed to take place on Saturday, October 5.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and his supporters are opposing the election because it will solidify Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s grip on the political structure in the state.
Fubara’s henchmen have since joined Action Peoples Party (APP) on whose platform they are contesting the election.
Earlier, the governor had said he would ignore whatever court ruling against the election since the Supreme Court had earlier given a landmark judgment on local government administration where it said only democratically elected council officials are legal.
Then thugs attempted to steal election materials in the wee hours of Friday 1: am in an effort to scuttle the election. It took security operatives led by the Governor to foil the attempt. The thieves were said to have been dressed in police uniform.
It was also gathered that the miscreants attempted to scale through the gates and strong room of the commission to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.
According to Punch Newspaper quoting a source, “the move was botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development.”
The source said the governor led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to the scene.
Speaking to newsmen in front of the RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Fubara condemned the incident and commended the security men for their alertness.
Another Government House source said, “The governor said local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised those trying to truncate the process and cause anarchy in the state to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.”
It was gathered that top officials of the government and their supporters are presently keeping vigil at the facility.
