Rivers Police Restricts Movement for By-Election

The Rivers State Police Command has announced a restriction on human and vehicular movement in seven local government areas ahead of Saturday’s Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election.

In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the directive applies to Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro local government areas, which make up the senatorial district.

The restriction, which takes effect from midnight on Friday, June 19, will remain in force until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, the election day.

The command said the measure was part of security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, orderly and credible electoral process, warning that anyone involved in electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or other unlawful activities would face prosecution.

“As part of comprehensive security measures put in place to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process, the movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles within the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, 19th June 2026, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 20th June 2026,” the statement read in part.

Agabe, quoting the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, said the restriction was to protect voters, electoral officials and materials while preventing activities that could disrupt the election in Rivers State. 

The command clarified that the restriction would not affect accredited officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security personnel deployed for election duties, emergency responders, fire service personnel and other essential service providers.

“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.

“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju, calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected Local Government Areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies to ensure a successful electoral exercise.

“CP Adepoju emphasised that all eligible voters, political stakeholders, community leaders, youth groups and residents of the affected Local Government Areas are to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the electoral process,” the statement added.

The by-election is being conducted to fill the vacant Rivers South-East senatorial seat following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi in February.

The police urged political parties, candidates, supporters and residents of the affected areas to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies throughout the electoral process.

The command also assured residents that it had deployed robust security measures, in collaboration with other agencies, to safeguard lives, property, and electoral materials, while encouraging the public to report suspicious activities.