Gunshots rocked the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area in Rivers State when Hon. Allwell Ihundah, the LGA Chairman, tried to enter his office.
Hon. Allwell Ihundah narrowly escaped harm when protesting youths chased him down Moscow Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Ihundah, the outgoing Chairman of Port Harcourt City LGA, was accompanied by aides and security when the incident occurred.
He attempted to enter the council secretariat but was confronted by the youths who had occupied the area since Monday.
The tenure of the elected LGA Chairmen and Councillors ended on June 17th as per the Constitution.
But these officials refused to leave office, citing an amendment by the state assembly that extended their tenure by six months.
Governor Siminialayi Fubara, in a broadcast this morning, had bid farewell to the elected officials, stating their term had legally ended.
Following the broadcast, Ihundah arrived at the council secretariat to collect his belongings but was stopped by angry youths.
As Ihundah approached the entrance, the youths began shouting and chasing him. Security personnel fired into the air to disperse the crowd, allowing Ihundah to escape in a black SUV
The embattled LGA Chairman’s aides followed in other vehicles as the youths continued to hurl abuses and threats.
Some of the youth were heard shouting, “That is him, Allwell. Chase him. Who is he? Look at him, Mayor is running. Chase him. Are you mad? God punish you.
“Don’t run, come, you will see pressure. We are not afraid of you. You are mad. Thunder will fire you.”
But some of his security details were seen trying to calm the youths who refused to listen to them, saying, ”Why is he running?”
The police, attempting to calm the situation, fired more shots into the air, but the youths resisted.
Watch the video below:
Former Mayor of Porthacourt City Allwell Ihunda and his security took to their heels after trying to make his way illegally into the council as he was been chased away by well meaning indigenes of the Local Government.
Rivers state is fully for Sim. 🤣
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) June 18, 2024
The people of Rivers State have taken it upon themselves to chase all the Wike's Men in LGA away.
Indeed Fubara is now in-charge…
His people are with him…
Someone should check on Wike to see if he's okay. pic.twitter.com/ABQzdAyV3D
— Queen Bee 👑 🐝 (@RealQueenBee__) June 18, 2024
Rivers state Omuma Council has been taken over by the Rivers people. Rivers state is fully for Gov Sim. No put body of e no sure for you 🤣🤣
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) June 18, 2024
Wike Statue destroyed in Obio/Akpor Local Government, In Rivers State. 🤣🤣
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) June 18, 2024
Happening at Obio/Akpor LGA In Rivers state 😂
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) June 18, 2024
KanyiDaily also reported how the Youths from Eleme LGA in Rivers State took over the Council Secretariat, declaring their support to Governor Siminialayi Fubara