The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports that its operatives have sealed off the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in Port Harcourt to stop them from conducting the local government council elections scheduled for Saturday.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police officers deployed to the RSIEC office were acting on the Commissioner of Police’s directive to protect the facility from potential attacks during the ongoing nationwide protests. She emphasised that the police presence was purely for security purposes and not to disrupt the electoral process.

She also urged the public to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation. Additionally, Koko dismissed allegations circulating on social media that police officers assaulted and beat up protesters, stating that there was no truth to these claims.

The development comes as RSIEC prepares to conduct Local Government Area elections on October 5, 2024. The elections have been the subject of controversy, with conflicting court orders and concerns about the electoral process.