Police operatives in Abuja have detained two prominent figures closely affiliated with the Rivers State Governor, including Sokari Goodboy, the lawmaker representing the Aboada West Constituency of the state House of Assembly, and Ezebunwo Ichemati, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
The arrests occurred outside the venue of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday, April 18.
According to reports, the detainees were apprehended by police officers on the orders of a local government chairman in Rivers State.
In a video that circulated widely on social media, a member of Governor Sim Fubara’s media team alleged that the local government chairman directed the arrest of the lawmaker and assaulted Ezebunwo Ichemati.
The lady stated, “All of us, the media team that came from Rivers State were together. The next thing – he (the LG Chairman) pointed out that they should arrest the present serving Assembly member who is representing the good people of Aboada West,” she said.
“The next thing that came up again, he started giving them instructions he attacked Ezebunwo and tore his shirt.
“We don’t even know what we are doing here because he has ordered that they should arrest all of us, she added.
Both Sokari Goodboy and Ezebunwo Ichemati were taken into custody by security operatives and transported to an undisclosed police station. Their arrest has sparked outrage among supporters, with calls for their immediate release.
The special assistant on Electronic Media to the governor, Jerry Omotsegunwa, confirmed the incident and called for their immediate release.
He told Punch, “They were there in solidarity so why should they be arrested? Going there to show solidarity, they were not the only ones.
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“A lot of Governors also came 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.”
The political landscape in Rivers State has long been divided, with 27 out of 31 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly aligning themselves with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the remaining four remain loyal to Governor Fubara.
