The Police in Rivers State has advised political parties not to bridge the laws of the state ahead of the 2023 election.
Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, advised the parties to approach the court to channel any grievances, including the Executive Order 21, signed by Governor Nyesom Wike.
Effiong gave the advice in Port Harcourt on Wednesday during a security meeting with political parties in the state.
The commissioner, while fielding questions from some party candidates about the commmad’s position on the order, said the police will not allow themselves to be put at the centre of any agitation.
He said, “In a country, there are three arms of government. And in every democratic environment, there is a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.
“And that is why sometimes people have to approach the court to challenge a particular order. So I want to believe that we are not competent to challenge that order in court.
“Remember, even when you abuse me as a person, the rules do not permit me to react in public even If you abuse me in public, I cannot react in my capacity as a commissioner of police.
“The police enforce laws. But there is one thing we must keep in mind, we will not put ourselves at the forefront of agitations.
“So we are saying the executive order has been passed, and if we feel aggrieved and we feel it is inconsistent with what we have as tenets, the first thing we need to do is approach the courts.”
Effiong encouraged the political parties to ensure that their supporters exhibit peace and tolerance during the campaigns while assuring that 95 per cent of Police personnel will remain apolitical in next year’s elections.
You may recall that Executive Order 21 authorised by Governor Wike bars political parties contesting the 2023 elections from using public facilities in the state for rallies without obtaining permission from the government, including a 5 million naira caution fee.
