Rivers: Mbu bans political rallies in the state

The Rivers State Police Command has announced the ban of all political rallies in the state.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Mohammad.

The PPRO in the statement said the ban on political rallies in the state became important following the spate of violence in the state.

Mohammad said the ban particularly affects the Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI, the Rivers State Advancement Foundation, RIVLEAF and the newly formed Save Rivers Movement.

He, however, warned that any individual or group caught violating the ban order would be made to face the wrath or the law.

In a swift reaction, the Rivers State Government welcomed the ban describing it as a move aimed at curbing insecurity in the state.

The state commissioner for information and Communication, Ibim Semenitari told the media in Port Harcourt that the Joseph Mbu-led Police Command has taken the first right decision since his transfer to Rivers State.

Semenitari also said she hoped the police would not violate its own rule by providing security for rival groups to hold political rallies in the state.

Meanwhile, a rights lawyer based in Port Harcourt, Ken Atsuwete has condemned the ban.

Atsuwete said it was not in the stance of the police to give such order, stressing that only the Governor of a state had the constitutional powers to stop any rally on the state.

The lawyer, however, insisted that the rights of citizens in Rivers State were being infringed upon by the police.

In the meantime, some other social commentators in the state, has said the ban on political rallies might not be unconnected to the nationwide registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, set begin on Wednesday.