Onueze Chukwujinka Okocha, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has urged Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to obey the court order regarding the October 5 local government election in the state. This call follows the Federal High Court in Abuja’s September 30, 2024 judgment prohibiting the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from participating in the election.
Despite the court ruling, Governor Fubara insisted that the election would proceed as planned. However, the Rivers State police authorities have announced their intention to comply with the court order by not providing security for the exercise.
In a live TV program on Friday, Okocha warned that the election could face significant problems without police presence, emphasizing the need for compliance with the judicial decision to ensure a smooth process.
“The way forward is for the State Independent Electoral Commission, the Governor of Rivers State represented by the Attorney General of Rivers State to obey the order of the court.”
“INEC has said that we have not given them register, we will not give them in compliance with the order of the court.”
“The Inspector General of Police speaking through the police spokesman in Rivers State has said we will obey the order of the court and will not provide security for the election,” he said.
The ex-NBA President argued that a former Rivers State governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has nothing to do with the crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
“The Minister of the FCT is not a party in this case. Why should anybody be calling his name? The issues involved are issues of law and have nothing to do with personalities.”
“The parties involved are institutions – All Progressives Congress (APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Attorney General of Rivers State, Government of Rivers State and the State Security Services.”
“People should move away from parochialism and casting aspersions on individuals to score cheap political points,” he added.
