Heavy Shooting Rocks Rivers as Pro Wike LGA Chair Allegedly Moves to Access Office

• Steady gunshots rented the air on Tuesday, June 18, particularly within the headquarters of the Port Harcourt City LGA
• Youths and residents supporting Rivers governor, Siminialayi Fubara, took over many councils’ headquarters
• The protesting youths seized the headquarters and occupied them to stop the local government chairmen and other elected officials contesting tenure elongation from returning to their offices

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering governance, politics, and public journalism in Nigeria.

Port Harcourt, Rivers state - Heavy shooting was recorded at the premises of Port Harcourt City local government area (LGA) of Rivers state on Tuesday morning, June 18.

This followed a move by the chairman of the LGA, Allwell Ihundah, to access his office.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, directed heads of administration in the 23 local government areas (LGAs) to take charge of the councils.

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Governor Fubara's directive is with effect from Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

This follows the expiration of the tenure of elected chairmen, their deputies, and councillors who were mostly loyal to the immediate past Rivers state governor and current FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

Violent confrontation at premises of Port Harcourt City LGA

The shooting incident sparked tension as businesses in the area have shut temporarily, Vanguard newspaper noted.

It was alleged that the chairman of the LGA, Ihundah had arrived at the council secretariat on Tuesday morning, June 18, with his security personnel to access his office, but that he was stopped by the youths who occupied the premises.

Ihundah allegedly came to the council secretariat to pick up some of his property, but he was stopped by the angry youths in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state.

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It was learned that in the process police attached to him started shooting in the air to scare the LGA occupants.

Subsequently, Ihunda jumped into a black SUV vehicle, escorted by aides and zoomed off, according to The Punch.

See a video from the scene of the commotion below:

Amaechi opens up on Rivers' political crisis

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation and an ex-governor of Rivers state, commented on the political crisis rocking the state.

Amaechi maintained that Governor Fubara appeared to be more popular than Wike.

Source: Legit.ng