President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore peace in Rivers State following violent incidents and arson at local government secretariats after the inauguration of 23 local government chairmen elected amid controversy.

The police unsealed the council secretariats, which had been closed since July, to enable the newly elected chairmen, mainly from the Action Peoples Party (APP), to take office. However, violence soon erupted, with reports of four secretariats Ikwerre, Isiokpo, Emohua, and Eleme being set ablaze and gunfire reported in other areas, resulting in at least one death in Khana Local Government Area.

The controversial elections were boycotted by major parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to widespread protests. Governor Siminalayi Fubara accused opposition groups of trying to obstruct the newly elected officials.

In his response, President Tinubu urged restraint, directing law enforcement to secure public institutions and stressing that political disputes should be resolved through the judiciary, not violence. The IGP condemned the unrest and assigned the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, to restore order.

While violence occurred in certain areas, others, including Port Harcourt City and Opobo/Nkoro, remained peaceful, allowing council chairmen to assume office without incident. Governor Fubara condemned the violence during his visits to affected regions and urged residents to act responsibly.

Support for Fubara’s leadership amidst the crisis came from prominent figures like Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who called for former Rivers governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to step aside to allow Fubara to govern effectively.