Ruling party denies involvement in police takeover of Rivers councils

The Rivers State All Progressives Congress has denied claims that the party is behind the takeover of local government secretariats by the Police in the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 12, 2015 in Port Harcourt, Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya denied the claims by the Peoples Democratic Party in the State saying that the allegation against his party was baseless, watery and without any foundation.

'The accusation is watery, baseless and without foundation. APC as a party has nothing to do with the Police takeover of the LG Secretariats in Rivers State.

'We are not a lawless party like PDP that used the Police and other security organs to make the state virtually ungovernable during their time in power at the centre,' Ikanya said.

According to Ikanya, the APC has always been known as a party that respects and advocates strict adherence to the rule of law.

'In any case, even if we haboured such thoughts, it wouldn’t have been possible to execute it under the present dispensation as the President Buhari administration is not running a lawless government as was the case during the time of Dr. Jonathan and could not have directed the police to embark upon any illegal act,' Ikanya said.

He, however, restated his party’s rejection of the order by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, sacking the 22 LG Chairmen elected during the Amaechi era.

Ikanya stated that the state APC would follow constitutionally approved judicial processes to seek justice in the matter.

It was gathered that the vacation of the council secretariats was on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

It was also learnt that the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had earlier spoken with the IGP on the matter before an order was given for policemen to leave the council secretariats.