On Monday, President Bola Tinubu urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
He emphasized that political actors should resolve their differences in court, stating, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system.”
This call for calm comes in response to reports of arson and vandalism of public facilities in Rivers State following last Saturday’s local government elections.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President ordered police to secure public facilities to “restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.” The statement was titled, “President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices.”
The recent local government elections were dominated by the Action People’s Party (APP), which won 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the state’s 23 local government areas. The results were announced by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, in Port Harcourt on Sunday. According to the RSIEC, the APP claimed 314 wards, while the All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, and Young People’s Party each secured one seat. Both factions of the Rivers State PDP and the APC rejected the election’s conduct and outcome, claiming no election occurred on Saturday.
The Rivers PDP, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, vowed to challenge the results in court.
Meanwhile, incumbent Governor Fubara has sworn in the newly elected council chairmen for the 23 local government areas, escalating tensions as supporters from both camps have laid siege to public facilities.
In light of the unrest, “the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,” Onanuga noted.
The statement continued, “He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions. President Tinubu directed police to swiftly restore and maintain peace, law, and order. He emphasized the importance of securing public institutions, stating that facilities built with taxpayer money must be protected from vandalism.
“He reiterated that self-help is unacceptable in a democratic society, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy. According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can resolve all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.”
