President Bola Tinubu on Monday called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law.
The President urged all parties to resolve their disputes through the courts, emphasizing that “self-help has no place in a democratic system.”
This appeal followed reports of arson and vandalism of public facilities in Rivers State after last Saturday’s local government elections.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu directed the police to safeguard public infrastructure and restore peace and order in the state immediately.
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices.’
The Action People’s Party (APP) dominated the recent local government elections in Rivers State, winning 314 out of the 319 available councillorship seats across the state’s 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, announced the results in Port Harcourt on Sunday. According to RSIEC, the APP secured 314 wards, while the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, and Young People’s Party each won one seat.
However, the Rivers State PDP and APC factions rejected both the conduct and outcome of the election, claiming that no election took place on Saturday. The PDP faction loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has vowed to challenge the results in court.
Amid the political tensions, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is currently at odds with his predecessor, has sworn in the newly elected council chairmen from all 23 local government areas. This has heightened tensions in the state, with supporters of the opposing camps staging protests and laying siege to public facilities.
In response to recent tension, “the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,” Onanuga said.
The statement read, “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 emphasised 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.”