NBA Slams Police Over Roles In Rivers Council Election Fiasco
NBA says a court can’t stop police from carrying out its constitutional duty of providing security
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concerns regarding the security arrangements for the Rivers State loocal government elections scheduled for Saturday, 5 October.
This concerns arose from a controversial announcement made by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, that the police would refrain from providing security during the elections, citing compliance with a Federal High Court order.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the register of voters for Rivers State to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 5 October.
In the judgement delivered on Monday, the judge, Peter Lifu, also barred the Inspector General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) from providing security for the controversial elections.
The judgement was in a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which challenged the legitimacy of the election process.
In a statement released on Friday, NBA President Afam Osigwe described as a “brazen” decision, the police’s refusal to fulfil their constitutional mandate.
