HURIWA accuses Police of partisanship in Rivers PDP leadership crisis

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of exhibiting blatant double standards in its handling of the leadership crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at both national and state levels.

The group criticized the police for allegedly undermining court rulings and acting as a partisan tool to destabilize the opposition party.

HURIWA highlighted two instances as evidence of police complicity and partisanship. The first involves the alleged illegal occupation of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja by Samuel Anyanwu, the former National Secretary, despite a Court of Appeal judgment that removed him from the position.

Anyanwu, who resigned to contest the Imo State governorship election, continues to occupy the office with apparent backing from influential figures, while the police have failed to enforce the court’s decision.

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The second instance occurred in Rivers State, where the police barricaded the PDP State Secretariat following a High Court judgment that dissolved the leadership faction associated with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The barricade prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declared the rightful party leader, from implementing the court’s directive to reorganize the party and avert a leadership vacuum.

In a statement, HURIWA condemned these actions, describing them as a troubling pattern of selective enforcement of justice that undermines the rule of law. “The police have demonstrated blatant double standards.

They ignore Samuel Anyanwu’s illegal occupation of the PDP National Secretariat while obstructing Governor Fubara’s legitimate efforts to implement a High Court ruling in Rivers State. This selective application of the law raises serious questions about the neutrality of the police,” the statement read.

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HURIWA emphasized that Anyanwu’s continued occupation of the secretariat is a clear violation of the PDP constitution, which prohibits members who resign to contest elections from reclaiming their previous offices.

Despite this, Anyanwu has allegedly relied on self-help measures and police inaction to defy the Court of Appeal ruling.

Similarly, the group accused the police of aiding illegality in Rivers State by preventing Governor Fubara’s group from taking control of the PDP secretariat.

“The police deployed officers to block the secretariat under the guise of preventing unrest, effectively enabling the defiance of a valid court judgment,” HURIWA stated.

The association called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently intervene, warning that continued partisanship within the force could destabilize Nigeria’s democracy.

“The police must act as impartial enforcers of the law, not as instruments of political manipulation. Their actions erode public trust in law enforcement and set a dangerous precedent for governance,” HURIWA cautioned.

HURIWA also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the police adhere to constitutional principles and resist being used for political oppression. The group called on the judiciary to assert its authority by holding individuals and institutions accountable for defying court orders.

The association demanded the immediate removal of Samuel Anyanwu from the PDP National Secretariat and the lifting of police barricades at the Rivers State PDP secretariat to allow Governor Fubara to implement the High Court ruling. It also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and hold law enforcement agencies accountable for their actions.

HURIWA concluded with a stark warning about the implications of police partisanship.

“The erosion of professionalism within the Nigeria Police Force threatens to destabilize our political system and weaken democratic institutions. The time to act is now. The police must uphold the rule of law and demonstrate their commitment to the constitution. Anything less is a disservice to the Nigerian people and a threat to the stability of our democracy,” the association declared.