Rivers Police deny sealing RSIEC office

The Rivers State Police Command has issued a statement denying reports that its officers sealed the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in Port Harcourt.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Grace Iringe-Koko, the 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.

SP Iringe-Koko said that the police presence was purely for security purposes and not intended to disrupt the electoral process.

READ ALSO: Rivers: Reps opposition laud court decision on LG poll

She urged the public to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation.

Additionally, Iringe-Koko dismissed allegations circulating on social media that police officers assaulted and beat up protesters, stating that there was no truth to these claims.

This 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.

A Rivers State High Court had earlier ordered RSIEC to proceed with the elections, directing the commission to use the 2023 voters’ register.

The police and other security agencies have been instructed to provide adequate security during and after the polls to prevent any security breaches.