Two supporters of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, including the lawmaker representing the Aboada West Constituency of the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy, have been arrested in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Additionally, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state called Ezebunwo Ichemati was also arrested by the police.
The pair was allegedly apprehended by officers outside the location of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday.
In a widely circulated video observed by our reporter, a woman who identifies as a member of Fubara’s media team, claimed that the two men were detained at the behest of a Local Government chairman in Rivers State.
She remarked, “All of us, the media team that came from Rivers State were together. The next thing – he (the LG Chairman) indicated that they should detain the present serving Assembly member who is representing the good people of Aboada West.
“The next thing that occurred, he began giving them instructions, he attacked Ezebunwo and ripped his shirt.
“We don’t even know what we are doing here because he has ordered that they should detain all of us.”
Our reporter learned that the two governor’s supporters were taken away by the security operatives.
When reached, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, verified the incident and demanded their immediate release.
He remarked, “They were there in solidarity so why should they be arrested? Going there to show solidarity, they were not the only ones.
“A lot of Governors also arrived there with their people and coming to picket some people on the orders of an individual is not it at all. So they should be released immediately.”
Of the current 31 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly, 27 led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule are faithful to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the remaining four are loyal to Fubara.
Of the four, one and former factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, resigned from the state House of Assembly and was later appointed as Fubara’s Chief of Staff, following the prolonged political crisis rocking the state.
The State House of Assembly has 32 constituencies, but one of the lawmakers Dinebari Loolo who represented the Khana Constituency 2, died in 2023.
Nevertheless, a by-election had yet to be conducted to fill the vacant seat.
When reached, the Force Public Relations Officer, Adejobi Olumuyiwa picked up the call but dropped it immediately our reporter introduced himself.
He had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile as of the time of filing this report on Thursday evening.
