Some angry youths in Rivers State stormed the state House of Assembly on Thursday to protest an alleged plan by Nyesom Wike, the state governor, to sack the 22 local government chairmen elected into office by the immediate past administration of Rotimi Amaechi.
Thousands of youths carried placards and blocked the entrance into the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to kick against the alleged move.
Amaechi had conducted the councils’ election on Saturday, May 23, 2015, nearly a week before the expiration of his tenure, but Wike described the process as illegal.
On Monday, June 8, 2015, Wike dissolved the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, led by Professor Augustine Ahiazu, citing abuse of office as his reason for taking the action.
Thursday’s demonstration by the youths caused traffic gridlock in the city.
One of the council chairmen among the protesters, Sogbeye Eli of Degema local government area, vowed to resist attempt by the governor to remove them from office.
Already, there is a court order restraining the governor from sacking the elected local government chairmen.
Youths Block Rivers Assembly http://t.co/hNCNx9Fnqi