IGP Directs Unsealing Of Local Council Headquarters After Governor Fubara Inaugurates APP Leaders

The secretariat was shut down in June due to the dispute between the Interim Committee Leaders supporting Gov. Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen.

The police authority in Rivers State has unsealed all 23 LGA offices in the state after the election and inauguration of new chairmen.

This was confirmed in a communication by the police public relations officer, Iringe-Koko earlier on Monday morning.

She said the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala acting on the orders of the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the council secretariats in the state.

The secretariat was sealed in June following the disagreement between the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The development was after Governor Siminalayi Fubara had sworn in 23 newly elected local government chairmen in the state.

The exercise held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Sunday, comes a day after the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted an election at the grassroots.

Read Entire Announcement Below::

POLICE ORDERS UNSEALING OF LGA SECRETARIATS, WITHDRAWAL OF DEPLOYED PERSONNEL WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state. This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel. The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.


The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation evolves.



GRACE IRINGE-KOKO (ANIPR),
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND.
FOR: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
OCTOBER 7, 2024

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Kelly Rae Declared Champion Of BBNaija 9th Edition

Kellyrae now becomes part of the ranks of former All-Stars winner Ilebaye (GenZ Baddie) to secure the main award.

The contestant on the weekend was declared the champion of the current BBNaija 9th Season, taking home the grand prize of N60 million, a sports utility vehicle, and additional prizes.

He pipped fellow housemate Wanni, who emerged runner-up, and Onyeka, who emerged as the third place spot.Kellyrae now joins the likes of last season’s All-Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniya (Gen Z Baddie) to claim the grand prize.

Regarded as Nigeria’s most anticipated TV show, this season’s theme "No Loose Guard", which premiered on July 24, 2024, welcomed 14 pairs of housemates,

However, only one pair and six individual contestants made it to the final.

The other finalists were Victoria, Ozee, Sooj, Nelly, and Anita.

The top 8 Big Brother Naija Season 9 contestants

This year’s edition had an unusual twist as the participants were required to apply in pairs.

Among the eight finalists, Kellyrae, Victoria, and Wanni were considered favourites by many viewers to make the top three and earn final podium spots

The finale was a star-studded affair, featuring performances from popular artistes Joseph Akinfewa-Donus, aka Joeboy, and Chimamanda Chukwuma, popularly referred to as Qing Madi.

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Tension Shakes Rivers State Over Suspension Of Ban On Local Council Offices

The Rivers State Governor had inaugurated twenty-three freshly selected local government chairmen in the state.

Conflict was said to have ensued in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State following lifting of the 90-day restriction on the Local Government Area secretariats by the Police Chief, Egbetokun on Monday.

The area is the L.G.A of the top aide to the Governor, Ehie.

Our correspondents at the scene who later ran to safety, said police officers were seen firing into the air to disperse persons who tried to resist the resumption of the Ahoada East chairman on Monday.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko earlier on Monday morning, had directed the re-opening of all the 23 LGA secretariats in the state.

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala acting on the orders of the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the council secretariats in the state.

The secretariat was sealed in June following the disagreement between the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had sworn in 23 newly elected local government chairmen in the state.

The exercise held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Sunday, comes a day after the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted an election at the grassroots.

There was also an initial report that some individuals had attempted to barricade the Port Harcourt City LGA secretariat earlier on Monday, when the Chairman, Ezebunwo Ichemati tried to access the council secretariat.

The crisis was, however, allegedly foiled when the men sighted the chairmen, councillors and supporters arriving at the council.

Ichemati was later seen supervising the clearing of overgrown grasses and cleaning of the council and other facilities within the premises.

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Rivers LG Election Indicates People Are Weary Of Tyrants

The PDP chieftain said the Rivers State Governor had no option but to go ahead with the poll when his political party, the PDP, withdrew from the process.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Austin Okpara, claims the achievement of the organization of the Oct 5, 2024 local government election in the resource-rich state demonstrates the people of the state are tired of domination.

"What it portends is that Rivers people are tired of oppression, Rivers people are tired of emperorship, Rivers people are tired of dictatorship," he said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

"The difference now is that we have a governor who wants to serve and not be served; not a governor who Adolf Hitler is his mentor or (Donald) Trump.

"Rivers people feel liberated; Rivers people are happy, they came out in their numbers to vote and they are excited."

Okpara, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, knocked ex-governor Nyesom Wike for trying to control the structures of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

"A man wants to control APC structure, he wants to be in control of PDP structure, in a state? How do you explain that?" he queried.

Okpara applauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara for defying all odds to hold the local government election in the state despite the withdrawal of the PDP and the APC.

"We should give credit to Governor Fubara because by the end of the month, any state that does not have (a) democratically elected local government structure will not receive money. What’s the implication? It means that civil servants at the local government level will not be paid? Families will be deprived.

"So, Governor Fubara was helpless in this situation, sacrificed and ensured that rather than go on a party line, let there be an election so that the state would continue to benefit from (FAAC allocations)."