HURIWA Blasts Police Over Rivers PDP Disaster, Fingers APC

The Human Rights Writers Affiliation of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticised the Nigeria Police and alleged double requirements exhibited by the power in dealing with the management disaster inside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the nationwide and state ranges.

The affiliation accused the police of performing as a partisan software to destabilize the opposition, significantly by supporting actions that undermine courtroom rulings and the rule of legislation.

HURIWA in an announcement issued on Friday by its Nationwide Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko identified two evident cases of police complicity that spotlight the erosion of professionalism inside the power.

First, it mentioned the unlawful occupation of the PDP Nationwide Secretariat by former Nationwide Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, who was validly eliminated by the Court docket of Appeal, which the police haven’t finished something with reference to enforcement is a pointer to the power’s evident complicity.

The group affirmed that regardless of this judicial pronouncement, Anyanwu has defiantly occupied the workplace, allegedly backed by influential figures, whereas the police have did not implement the courtroom’s choice.

Second, the group mentioned the police actively barricaded the Rivers PDP secretariat following a Excessive Court docket judgment that dissolved the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the social gathering management.

Wike is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It pressured that the motion of the police has prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was declared the rightful social gathering chief, from reorganizing the social gathering to keep away from a vacuum.

HURIWA asserted that these actions reveal a troubling sample of partisanship inside the police, elevating critical questions concerning the power’s allegiance to the structure.

“The police have demonstrated blatant double requirements by failing to uphold the legislation uniformly. On one hand, they turned a blind eye to Anyanwu’s occupation of the PDP Nationwide Secretariat in Abuja regardless of a legitimate courtroom judgment eradicating him.

“However, they impede the implementation of a Rivers State Excessive Court docket ruling that dissolved Wike’s faction of the PDP within the state.

“This selective enforcement of justice undermines the integrity of the police and casts doubt on their neutrality,” the group said.

The affiliation additional emphasised that Anyanwu’s actions, backed by police inaction, quantity to a brazen affront to the rule of legislation.

The Court docket of Appeal’s judgment, it mentioned, unequivocally eliminated him as PDP Nationwide Secretary following his resignation to contest the Imo State governorship election.

HURIWA highlighted that the PDP structure clearly stipulates {that a} member who resigns to contest an election can not reclaim their earlier workplace.

Regardless of this, Anyanwu has resorted to self-help measures, occupying the secretariat with obvious impunity, the group added

Equally, HURIWA lambasted the police for obstructing Governor Fubara’s official efforts to revive order inside the Rivers PDP.

Following the Excessive Court docket ruling that nullified the ward, native authorities, and state congresses performed by Wike’s faction, Governor Fubara’s group sought to take over the secretariat and implement the judgment.

Nonetheless, the police deployed personnel to barricade the secretariat, citing considerations about potential unrest, successfully stopping the enforcement of the courtroom order.

The affiliation argued that the police’s actions in each circumstances quantity to aiding and abetting illegality. It referred to as on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently tackle these points, warning that continued partisanship inside the power may have dire penalties for Nigeria’s democracy.

“The police should act as neutral enforcers of the legislation, not as instruments for political manipulation. Permitting impunity to thrive undermines public belief in legislation enforcement and units a harmful precedent for governance in Nigeria,” HURIWA cautioned.

HURIWA additionally raised considerations concerning the broader implications of police partisanship, warning that it may destabilize the political system and erode the rule of legislation.

The affiliation referred to as on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that the police function inside the confines of the structure and resist getting used as devices of political oppression.

It additional urged the judiciary to claim its authority by holding people and establishments accountable for flouting courtroom orders.

The group reiterated its name for the quick elimination of Samuel Anyanwu from the PDP Nationwide Secretariat and demanded that the police permit Governor Fubara to implement the Excessive Court docket judgment in Rivers State with out interference.

It additionally referred to as on Nigerians to stay vigilant and demand accountability from legislation enforcement companies.

HURIWA warned that the continued erosion of professionalism inside the Nigeria Police Power may result in widespread disillusionment amongst residents and additional weaken Nigeria’s democratic establishments.

“The time to behave is now. The police should uphold the rule of legislation, implement courtroom judgments impartially, and exhibit their dedication to the structure.

“Something much less is a disservice to the Nigerian folks and a risk to the steadiness of our democracy,” the affiliation declared.