Following reports of arson and vandalism of public facilities in Rivers State after last Saturday’s local government elections, President Bola Tinubu on Monday, urged the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged the political actors and their supporters to settle their differences in court, saying, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system.”
According to the statement, which is titled, ‘President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices’, the president has also ordered the police to guard public facilities to “restore and maintain peace, law and order immediately.”
In the absence of the two major political parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC), who boycotted the election, the Action People’s Party dominated the elections in the state when it secured 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the state’s 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, announced the results in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
According to the RSIEC, the APP won 314 wards, while the All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and Young People’s Party each clinched one seat.
The Rivers State PDP and the APC factions rejected the conduct and outcome of the election on Sunday, saying no election held on Saturday.
The Rivers PDP loyal to the former Governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, vowed to challenge the results in court.
Meanwhile, Fubara, who is now at loggerheads with his predecessor, has since sworn in the newly-elected council chairmen of the 23 local government areas.
This has sparked tension in the state as supporters of each camp have laid siege to public facilities.
In response to the recent tension, Onanuga said, “The President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state.
“He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions. President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasized the need to ensure the security of public institutions. President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.
“He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.
”According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.”
