A coalition of human rights groups and the Human Rights Advocacy Crusaders (HRAC) has urged the police and other security agents in Rivers State to maintain neutrality and impartiality in the ongoing local government crisis.
The group’s spokesperson, Jerry Nicholas, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that taking sides could escalate the crisis.
He added that it could lead to further violence and clashes between supporters of different parties, resulting in deaths and the destruction of property.
According to Nicholas, the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen and other officials is a constitutional matter, and security agents should help to maintain peace in the state.
“The law is clear: the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 provide for a three-year tenure for local government chairmen, with the possibility of a second term,” he said.
He urged security agents to prevent violence and maintain peace while allowing the democratic process to unfold and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld.
Nicholas urged the former chairmen and others who are still eligible to seek re-election into the councils whenever elections are scheduled by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
He reiterated that security agents must remain neutral and not take sides with any party.
It would be recalled that after the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councillors, Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered heads of administration in the 23 local government areas to take over the administration of the LGAs.
He subsequently swore in caretaker chairpersons in accordance with the law.
However, some LG chairmen have insisted on holding on to their offices.
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