Victor Ezeja
Hoodlums have set Ikwerre, Eleme and Emohua local council secretariats ablaze. Videos on social media showed the administrative buildings of the three LGAs on fire.
Some protesters allegedly invaded the Ikwere LGA in Isiokpo and set fire to a section of the secretariat, preventing the workers from assessing the place.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn one of the videos showing the Ikwere LGA secretariat on fire, sounds of gunshots were being heard.
Another video showed a section of the Emohua LGA burning. Protesters blocked entrance gate , preventing the newly sworn-in chairman, David Omereji, from gaining access to the council headquarters. They said the person they recognize as chairman of the local government is Chidi Lloyd, arguing that the State House had passed a law granting extension of office of LG chairmen elected during Nyesom Wike administration.
Also, there were shootings in Bori, in Khana andObior/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, some people allegedly loyal to Wike made attempts to prevent the chairmen from gaining access to the LGA headquarters.
READ ALSO: We’ve Salvaged Rivers LG Councils, Says Fubara, Swears In Newly Elected Chairmen
These crises come barely 48 hours after the Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during the swearing in ceremony of the newly elected council chairmen on Sunday, said he got information that 20 boys had been hired in each of the 23 LGAs of State to cause violence in each LGA secretariat the on Monday. The governor urged the new council chairman to remain peaceful.
Prime Business Africa had reported that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), declared the winners of the Saturday, 5 October 2024 local government elections, with 22 of 23 LGAs won by the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had opposed conduct of the election and staged protests. However, the governor insisted that the election must hold.
Earlier reports indicated that the Inspector General of Police who had been accused by Governor Fubara of openly taking sides with the FCT Minister announced the immediate withdrawal of police squads at the secretariats.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
