HURIWA faults police interference in Rivers PDP crisis

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the apparent double standards exhibited by the Nigeria Police Force in handling the leadership crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national and state levels.

The association accused the police of acting as a partisan tool to destabilise the opposition, particularly by supporting actions that undermine court rulings and the rule of law.

HURIWA in a statement yesterday by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko pointed out two glaring instances of police complicity that highlight the erosion of professionalism within the force.

First, the group noted the illegal occupation of the PDP National Secretariat by former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, who was validly removed by the Court of Appeal.

According to HURIWA, despite this judicial pronouncement, Anyanwu has defiantly occupied the office, allegedly backed by influential figures, while the police have failed to enforce the court’s decision.

Secondly, the group said in Rivers State, the police actively barricaded the PDP state secretariat following a High Court judgment that dissolved the faction of the party leadership purportedly handpicked by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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This, the HURIWA said, has prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was declared the rightful party leader, from reorganising the party to avoid a vacuum.

The association asserted that these actions reveal a troubling pattern of partisanship within the police, raising serious questions about the force’s allegiance to the constitution.

“The police have demonstrated blatant double standards by failing to uphold the law uniformly. On one hand, they turn a blind eye to Anyanwu’s occupation of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja despite a valid court judgment removing him.

“On the other hand, they obstruct the implementation of a Rivers State High Court ruling that dissolved Wike’s faction of the PDP in the state. This selective enforcement of justice undermines the integrity of the police and casts doubt on their neutrality.”

The association further emphasised that Anyanwu’s actions, backed by police inaction, amount to a brazen affront to the rule of law.

The Court of Appeal’s judgment, the group said, unequivocally removed him as PDP National Secretary following his resignation to contest the Imo State governorship election.

HURIWA highlighted that the PDP constitution clearly stipulates that a member who resigns to contest an election cannot reclaim their previous office, despite this, Anyanwu has resorted to self-help measures, occupying the secretariat with apparent impunity.

Similarly, HURIWA lambasted the police for obstructing Governor Fubara’s legitimate efforts to restore order within the Rivers PDP.