Tensions arose in Ahoada East, Rivers State, after the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lifted a three-month ban on Local Government Area (LGA) secretariats on Monday.
Ahoada East is the LGA of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie.
According to reporters at the scene, police fired warning shots to disperse people who attempted to block the return of the Ahoada East chairman.
Earlier that day, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the police command, announced the reopening of all 23 LGA secretariats in the state.
Following orders from the IGP, newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala ordered the withdrawal of officers who had been guarding the sealed council offices.
The secretariats were originally sealed in June after a dispute between Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Fubara and the former local government chairmen, who were aligned with Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Governor Fubara recently inaugurated 23 newly elected LGA chairmen in a ceremony at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following local elections held by the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
There were also reports of an attempted blockade at the Port Harcourt City LGA secretariat earlier on Monday when Chairman Ezebunwo Ichemati tried to access the building.
Violent clashes, gunfire, and explosions marked the return of local government chairmen recently sworn in by Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
Reports indicate that opponents of the elections have seized control of several councils, with clashes and explosions occurring at other secretariats.
In Emohua Local Government Area, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposed to the elections reportedly took over the council.
The situation was reportedly defused when Ichemati arrived with his team. He was later seen overseeing the clearing of overgrown grass and cleaning up the secretariat grounds.
KanyiDaily recalls that Nyesom Wife’s supporters had staged a protest in Port Harcourt, opposing the Rivers LG election.
