Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, thwarted an early morning attempt by the Nigerian Police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), to take control of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Friday at around 1 AM.

A video obtained by Channels Television shows policemen allegedly trying to scale the gates and access the strong room of the commission, purportedly to seize sensitive electoral materials intended for Saturday’s local government election in the state.

Upon alert from vigilant security personnel, the commission's senior officers and government authorities informed the governor of the situation. Fubara, accompanied by top officials, lawmakers, political stakeholders, and other leaders, quickly arrived at the RSIEC office.

In the video, voices can be heard shouting, “Move this thing! Illegal police! Illegal police! Thief! Thief!” while some of Fubara's supporters confronted the vehicles stationed outside the commission's office, some of which were carrying policemen.

Currently, the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of the State and National Assembly, and other stakeholders are stationed at the RSIEC office to ensure that the police, who arrived in two trucks and two Hilux vehicles, do not return, ensuring that the election proceeds as scheduled.

This development follows a statement by the Rivers State Police Command on Wednesday, in which spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed receiving a restraining order that prevents the police from providing security during the October 5 local government elections.

Governor Fubara previously expressed disappointment that his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), would not participate in the election. He stressed that the election must proceed as scheduled to comply with the Federal Government's three-month deadline to implement the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.