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Chaos In Court Premises As Rivers APC Supporters Clash

  Aggrieved supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly loyal to Senator Magnus Abe as well as those loyal to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi … Continue reading Chaos In Court Premises As Rivers APC Supporters Clash


File Photo; APC supporters

 

Aggrieved supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly loyal to Senator Magnus Abe as well as those loyal to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Friday clashed with security operatives at the Rivers State High Court.

The chaos started when some of them reportedly came to the court to secure an injunction to stop the Local Government Congress billed to hold on Saturday, May 12, 2018, but met the court under lock and key.

The situation then resulted in tension as some angry youths forced the gate open.

Security agents were later seen trying to take charge of the rowdy situation with gunshots being fired in the air.

Both parties are currently trading blames over the situation as it appears uncertainty hangs over the APC Local Government Congress slated for Saturday.

The exercise was cancelled last week after some thugs were said to have invaded the APC secretariat and disrupted the process.

Subsequently, Mr Amaechi was accused of using police officers to attack protesters; an allegation which he, however, denied.

In defence, he said the party had only invited the police to beef up security, but he lamented that despite their presence, attacks still took place.

On the other hand, the lawmaker representing Rivers South East district, Senator Magnus Abe, said there was no ward congress held in the 344 wards of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

In a statement by his spokesperson Parry Benson the senator declared that there was no stakeholders’ meeting before the scheduled Congress as promised by the leadership of the party in the state.

Abe, an APC governorship aspirant in the 2019 general elections, also accused the leadership of the party in the state of going against the guidelines of the ward congress by allowing contestants to pick forms on the day of the Congress.

Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Chris Finebone, however, maintained that the exercise was a success despite security the threats.