Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara has challenged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, stating that the local government election billed for Saturday, October 5 will be held.
Rivers State Police Command earlier vowed not to allow the election to be held.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command confirmed receiving a restraining order preventing the police from providing security during the LGA elections.
The Command also said it is aware of the September 30, 2024 ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja which barred the police from “allowing, participating in, providing security for, or taking part in the Rivers State Local Government Election on October 5, 2024.”
Addressing a gathering in Port Harcourt on Friday, Fubara declared that the IGP would have to shoot him to prevent him from accessing the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The governor said: “When it comes to the issue of Rivers State it becomes different, you are not ashamed to call yourself Inspector General of Police. Enough is enough, I will be here and if I go back and if I hear anybody complain, I will come here because this is my property.
“You don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering.
“Try it and part of your history as a wicked IGP would include shooting Fubara. I think that I have given you enough respect and to all Rivers indigenes, elections must hold; anything that wants to happen should happen.”
It was earlier reported that the governor stopped the police from taking over the RSIEC premises.
