The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over his alleged involvement in the political tensions surrounding the upcoming Rivers State Local Government election.
Scheduled for Saturday, October 5, the election has escalated into a fierce battle for political control between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
While Fubara, who supports the Action Peoples Party (APP), insists the election will proceed, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have boycotted the exercise.
Adding to the dramatic crisis, the police have announced they will not provide security during the election.
Fubara has publicly accused the IGP of bias, alleging that Egbetokun ordered the withdrawal of police officers protecting the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and deployed personnel from a neighboring state to seize election materials.
Daily Trust reports that HURIWA, through a statement signed by its coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, claimed that the IGP has become entangled in the political power struggle between Governor Fubara and Wike.
The organization taunted the IGP, urging him to openly join the APC if he wishes to be politically involved.
“We urge the IGP of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to decide if he wants to remove his uniform and then join the All Progressives Congress as a registered card-carrying member rather than wear the uniform paid for by taxpayers, most of whom don’t belong to any political persuasions. The police in Rivers State, controlled from the IGP’s office in Abuja, must behave like professionals,” HURIWA said.
The group went further, accusing the police of undermining democracy in Rivers State.
“We view this brazen attack on the soul of democracy in Rivers State by the partisan Nigeria Police as an attempted coup which must not be swept under the carpets of impunity,” HURIWA declared, adding that the police’s actions are reminiscent of military dictatorship and are damaging Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
The association warned the police to steer clear of political entanglements and adhere to their constitutional role of maintaining law and order, rather than being used to further the ambitions of political figures aligned with the ruling APC.
