WHY WE DEPLOYED OUR MEN AT RIVERS STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICE – POLICE

WHY WE DEPLOYED OUR MEN AT RIVERS STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICE – POLICE
The Rivers Police Command on Tuesday denied sealing the office headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made the clarification in reaction to publication by some online platforms that the office of RSIEC was sealed by the police.
According to Iringe-Koko, the police officers seen at the RSIEC office were deployed to the place on the directive of the Commission­er of Police to protect the facility against any attack during the on­going nationwide protest.
She further advised journalists to always verify their facts before publication.
SP Koko also revealed that there is no iota of truth in the al­legation published in some social media platforms that the police assaulted and beat up some pro­testers.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it is in total support of the conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
The party has also stated that it is participating in the elections, and has, indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.
The party made its position known in a letter to the Chair­man, Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC), INEC headquarters, Abuja, titled, ‘Re: Position of the Rivers State All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) on the forthcoming Local Government Election in Rivers State vis-a-vis the judgement in suit no. FHC/ ABJ/987/2024.”
A statement signed by Chair­man, APC Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, and State Secretary, APC Rivers State, Hon. Sam Sam Etetegwung, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, recalled that following an attempt by some members of the National Working Committee of the APC to displace the duly elect­ed State Executive Committee of the party in Rivers State by pur­porting to have dissolved the execu­tive committee and replaced same with a caretaker committee led by one Chief Tony Okocha, the elect­ed State Executive Committee ap­proached the High Court of Rivers State in suit no. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (between Sam Sam Etetegwung and Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors), and suit no. PCH/3735/CS/2023 (between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors and All Progressives Congress & Ors).
The statement noted that in a judgment, the High Court of Riv­ers State presided by Hon. Justice S. H. Aprioku affirmed the validity and subsistence of the Beke-led ex­ecutive committee until 2025.
It further added that the court also set aside the purported care­taker committee of Chief Tony Okocha, and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee (as led by Chief Emeka Beke) is the authentic leadership of the All Pro­gressives Congress in Rivers State.
The statement also stated that the party was aware that the Federal High Court presided by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgment in suit no. PHC/ABJ/ CS/987/2024.
It further stated that it is equal­ly aware that on the 4th day of Sep­tember, 2024, the High Court of Riv­ers State presided by Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/ CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State In­dependent Electoral Commission had given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
It noted that the judgment, be­ing first-in-time to the latter judg­ment in FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence, cognisance of the fact that when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
According to the statement: “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Commit­tee’ of the All Progressives Con­gress, Rivers State chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers chapter of the All Pro­gressives Congress. He is neither the chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever.
“He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Inde­pendent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.”
It further urged the public and institutions to discountenance the rantings and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts, and fully participate in the October 5 local government election in the state.