The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC in Rivers State is condemning the protest by some politicians loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, particularly the twenty-seven embattled members of the State House of Assembly, who defected from the PDP to the APC.
IPAC in a statement titled “THAT SENSELESS VIOLENT PROTESTS IN PORT HARCOURT: A CALL TO ACTION” signed by its Chairman, Sensei Solsuema Osaro, described the protest as meaningless, reckless, and a futile attempt to subvert the rule of law and undermine the authority of the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
IPAC regretted that the protest led to a near loss of life of one of the protesters, who sustained a serious wound from the explosion suspected to be a dynamite blast on Tuesday.
The statement said such destructive tendencies must stop in Rivers State while those responsible for such must be held accountable.
IPAC is therefore calling on the Rivers State Police Command not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to book.
The statement stressed that the tenure of the twenty-three Local Government Council Chairmen, which ended on June 17th, 2024, and the insistence of Rivers people asking them to vacate their offices was in line with the constitution and the laws of the land.
IPAC further noted that the extension of the tenure of the past Council Chairmen by the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers was nullified by a Port Harcourt High Court, which declared the action of the Assembly unconstitutional.
Subsequently, IPAC is now appealing to President Bola Tinubu to mandate the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to put an end to his sponsorship of the political crises rocking Rivers State. IPAC is also urging all stakeholders in the State to respect the rule of law and the democratic process.
Sensei Solsuema Osaro stated that IPAC stands firm in its commitment to deepening democracy and the rule of law in the State and would continue to work towards a peaceful and prosperous Rivers State for the good of every resident.