The Rivers State Police Command has unsealed all 23 Local Government Area (LGA) secretariats, following directives from Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
This development comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara swore in newly elected local government chairmen, predominantly from the Action People’s Party (APP), marking a new chapter in the state’s grassroots governance.
According to Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson in a statement released on Monday,
“The newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala, acting on the IGP’s orders, has directed the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the council secretariats.”
The political dynamics leading to this resolution date back to June, when the secretariats were initially sealed amid a power struggle between Caretaker Committee Chairmen aligned with Governor Fubara and their predecessors, loyal to Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of Federal Capital Territory.
The Explainer reported that Governor Fubara swore in 23 newly elected local government chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, following the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) conduct of grassroots elections.
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Fubara expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, describing him as “a true democrat.”
The ceremony was witnessed by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, chair of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Fubara remarked, “It takes divine intervention to survive the past few days. While I remain a committed PDP member, desperate situations sometimes require desperate actions. Our priority was salvaging the local government councils without resorting to confrontational approaches that could jeopardize state assets or public order.”
The local government elections saw APP secure 22 chairmanship positions, while Action Alliance claimed victory in Etche Local Government Area. RSIEC Chairman Adolphus Enebeli certified the election as “free, fair, and credible,” noting substantial voter turnout despite challenges.
Governor Fubara charged the new chairmen with servant leadership, emphasizing their responsibility to drive development in their respective areas.
“You are servants, not emperors,” he cautioned. “The real political structure lies with the people, and your primary duty is to work for their benefit.”
