The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced that it will not provide security or participate in the upcoming Local Government Chairmanship Election in Rivers State scheduled for October 5th, 2024, in compliance with recent court rulings.
This decision follows a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on July 19, 2024, which issued a restraining order preventing the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from offering security during the Local Government elections. A subsequent judgment delivered by the same court on September 30, 2024, reaffirmed this directive, once again barring security agencies from taking part in the election.
According to a press release by the Rivers State Police Command, the Force Legal Department has reviewed the situation and advised that the court’s most recent ruling on September 30th takes precedence and must be followed.
In response to recent protests by an opposition party demanding adherence to the court orders, the NPF has urged all parties involved to seek legal redress if they feel aggrieved by the court’s decisions or the handling of the election. The police force remains committed to maintaining peace and order and will take necessary actions to ensure the court’s judgment is upheld.
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All Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders have been directed to fully comply with the Federal High Court’s ruling. The Nigeria Police Force has also called on other security agencies to respect the court’s decision and abstain from participating in or providing security for the election.
In her statement, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer of Rivers State, called on all citizens to remain calm, peaceful, and cooperative during this period. She reiterated the NPF’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that order is maintained during the election process.
The Rivers State Local Government Chairmanship Election, already a highly anticipated event, is now set to proceed without the usual security oversight from the police, following the judicial mandates.
