Rivers violence: Tinubu orders IG to restore peace, cautions political factions

President Bola Tinubu on Monday urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.

He urged the political actors and their supporters to settle their differences in court, saying, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system.”

The President’s admonition follows reports of arson and vandalism of public facilities in Rivers State after last Saturday’s local government elections.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President ordered the police to guard public facilities to “restore and maintain peace, law and order 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 dominated the last Saturday local government elections in the state when it secured 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the state’s 23 local government areas.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, announced the results in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The Rivers State PDP and the APC factions rejected the conduct and outcome of the election on Sunday, saying no election was held on Saturday.

The Rivers PDP loyal to the former Governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, vowed to challenge the results in court.

Meanwhile, the incumbent Governor, Fubara, who at loggerheads with his predecessor, has since sworn in the newly elected council chairmen of the 23 local government areas.

This has sparked tension in the state as supporters of each camp have laid 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 added, “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.”