APC can pursue its membership drive but no more political rallies in Rivers, police says

by Dare Lawal

The All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its nationwide membership registration tomorrow, and in Rivers state, where the party has been having the short end of the stick in police treatment when compared to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there were fears that the police might not be very open to the membership registration in the state.

However, the commissioner of police, Joseph Mbu, said in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, that political parties in the state were free to pursue their membership drive in line with the Electoral Act.

“Party membership drive is allowed strictly as stipulated in Electoral Act 2010 as amended and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, regulations, please,” he said.

The commissioner however banned all forms of political rallies in the state allegedly due to the increasing political tension.

He said: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that as a result of increasing political tension in the state, the state Commissioner of Police has banned all political rallies in the state under whatever coloration or name.

“Accordingly, all public activities involving rallies of Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI; Save Rivers Movement, SRM;  Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation, RIVLEAF and whatever other names, are hereby banned. Rivers State Police Command will not provide security for any group in whatever guise.”