Allwell Ihunda, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State chapter, narrowly escaped harm when protesting youths chased him along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Ihunda, the outgoing Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, was heading to the council secretariat with his aides and security details when the incident unfolded.
Upon arriving at the council entrance, Ihunda encountered a group of youths who immediately began shouting and chasing him. The situation quickly escalated as the youths tried to apprehend Ihunda, forcing him to run back to his vehicle. His security details intervened, firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Ihunda managed to jump into a black SUV, accompanied by his aides, and sped away while the youths continued their pursuit, still shooting into the air. A white van, presumably carrying other aides of the outgoing chairman, followed closely behind. The youths hurled abuses at Ihunda, with some shouting, “That is him, Allwell. Chase him. Who is he? Look at him, Mayor is running. Chase him. Are you mad? God punish you.”
Despite attempts by some of his security details to calm the situation, the youths remained defiant, questioning, “Why is he running?”
This incident comes after the state ALGON declared their refusal to vacate office following the expiration of their tenure on June 17. The LG chairmen, elected under former Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration, cited a local government amendment law by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which extends their tenure by six months due to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to conduct local government elections.
The Amaewhule-led 27 lawmakers, loyal to the FCT minister, have been at odds with Fubara, exacerbating the political crisis in the state. Fubara, who survived an impeachment attempt last year, directed the heads of local government administration to assume control of council affairs starting Wednesday, June 19, pending further directives.
