Posted by Soni Daniel, Port Harcourt on
Attempt by six out of the ten councillors to effect a change in the leadership of Andoni Local Government Council in Rivers State has landed them in police custody.
Attempt by six out of the ten councillors to effect a change in the leadership of Andoni Local Government Council in Rivers State has landed them in police custody.
Our correspondent gathered that the six local legislators who were opposed to the leadership of the Andoni legislature, headed by Mr. Sampson Itogwung, were arrested on the orders of a top Peoples Democratic Party official in the state, who saw their action as an affront on him.
It was learnt that shortly after the six persons, namely Don John, Mina Dema, Igo Joe, Gab Good, Glory Otowo and Mkpon Felix, were arrested and detained at the Divisional Police Station at Ngo, they were moved to Port Harcourt.
They were moved on Tuesday evening to the Criminal Investigation Department in Port Harcourt for questioning.
The local politicians are said to have employed illegal methods to remove their leader whom they accused of poor leadership and working against their welfare.
But the leader of the legislature, Mr. Sampson Itogwung, in a telephone interview on Wednesday, blamed his ordeal on a traditional ruler who failed to get favour from him and decided to use the councillors against him (Itogwung).
As at Wednesday afternoon, the councillors were yet to be released from detention.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, when confronted on Wednesday, simply said, 'Please, leave me alone with that matter."
The Punch, Thursday June 23, 2005