News reaching News About Nigeria is that there is heavy shooting at the premises of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State following a move by the chairman of the LGA, Hon Allwell Ihundah, to access his office.
This development is said to have forced business owners to shut down operations in the area.
According to reports, the rift began when the deposed Chairman of the LGA, Ihundah, arrived at the council secretariat this morning with his security personnel to access his office.
Upon trying to access his office, Ihundah was stopped by the youths who had resumed occupation of the premises on Monday.
Recall that, according to the Constitution, the three-year’ tenure of the elected Chairmen of Local Government and Councillors expired on June 17, 2024.
However, the LGA bosses have insisted that they would not vacate office following a purported amendment to the Local Government Administration Law of the State by the Martin Amaewhule-led State Assembly.
Although a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had also voided the amendment of the LGA law and extended their tenure by six months, the Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, announced in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning that the Chairmen have completed their tenure and should vacate their offices with immediate effect.
The governor bid them farewell, adding that they could not continue to occupy the position as their tenure had legally elapsed.
A few hours after the governor’s announcement, Ihundah allegedly came to the council secretariat to pick up some of his property but was stopped by the angry youths.
It was due to this development that policemen attached to him started shooting in the air to scare the LGA occupants, who were, however, not deterred by the gunshots.
