Prominent pro-democracy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called for the immediate arrest of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) over an alleged attempt to invade the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office.
The incident, which reportedly occurred at 1 a.m. on Friday, was foiled by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who intervened to prevent the takeover of the electoral body’s office.
HURIWA condemned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for allegedly becoming entangled in the political feud between Governor Fubara and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The group urged the IGP to clarify whether he intends to remain impartial or align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing him of playing a partisan role in Rivers’ political struggles.
In a statement released by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group criticized the IGP’s involvement in what they described as a battle for political dominance in Rivers State, instigated by Wike, who they labeled a “self-acclaimed political godfather.” HURIWA advised the police to act professionally, rather than serve as enforcers for political interests tied to the APC.
The group’s outcry follows reports of a coordinated attempt by police and alleged miscreants to seize the RSIEC office, an action intended to disrupt the upcoming local government elections. Governor Fubara, upon receiving the alert, rushed to the scene with a delegation of government officials, lawmakers, and political stakeholders. At the RSIEC office, he condemned the IGP’s partisan interference and reaffirmed that the elections would proceed as scheduled without police intervention.
HURIWA likened the police’s actions to an illegal coup and demanded the immediate arrest of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), accusing him of orchestrating the attempted takeover. The group stressed that such actions undermine Nigeria’s democratic institutions, describing the incident as an “assault on the soul of democracy.”
“We view this brazen attack on democracy in Rivers State by the partisan Nigerian Police as an attempted coup, which must not be ignored,” the statement read.
HURIWA further criticized the Nigeria Police Force for what it sees as growing partisanship, asserting that the institution now operates more like the armed wing of the APC, rather than a professional law enforcement body. They expressed concerns over the global damage these actions could inflict on Nigeria’s reputation, likening the police’s involvement in the Rivers elections to the behavior seen during military dictatorships.
“These unlawful actions are dragging Nigeria’s image down on the international stage, and we must ensure that our police remain a neutral force committed to law and order, not political agendas,” the statement concluded.
