Two loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, including the lawmaker representing the Aboada West Constituency of the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy, have been reportedly arrested in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Also detained by the police was Ezebunwo Ichemati, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
According to The Punch, the alleged arrest occurred outside the venue of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday.
In a viral video, a member of Fubara’s media team claimed that the arrests were made at the behest of a Local Government chairman in Rivers State. She stated, “The next thing that came up again, he started giving them instructions; he attacked Ezebunwo and tore his shirt.”
The two individuals, identified as loyalists of the governor, were purportedly taken away by security operatives.
Confirming the incident, Jerry Omotsegunwa, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, demanded their immediate release, asserting, “They were there in solidarity, so why should they be arrested?”
Omotsegunwa criticized the arrest, highlighting that the individuals were among many who attended the event to express solidarity. He emphasized that such actions were unwarranted.
The political landscape of Rivers State has been marked by internal strife, with factions loyal to different political figures vying for dominance. Currently, 27 out of the 31 lawmakers in the State House of Assembly are reportedly aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the remaining four are loyal to Governor Fubara.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest remain unclear, with the Force Public Relations Officer, Adejobi Olumuyiwa, declining to provide immediate comment on the matter.
