Gunshots at Rivers APC secretariat as Abe supporters protest

MEMBERS of All Progressives Congress ( APC) in Rivers State loyal to a former lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday, protested on the premises of the state party secretariat, alleging hijack of state assembly aspirants screening and ward/ state delegates’ selection.

This is as gunshots rocked the secretariat located on Woji road, GRA Phase two.

Party members said they arrived at the state party secretariat around 6: 00a. m. only to meet the gate under lock and key.

It was learnt trouble started when some youths attempted to force open the gates, which prompted policemen stationed inside the party secretariat to fire shots into the air, causing chaos in the area as journalists covering the protest and protesters scampered to safety.

Some of the aggrieved aspirants, who spoke to The Guardian, alleged that the former transportation minister and APC presidential aspirant, Chibuike Amaechi, hijacked and moved the national screening committee to his private hotel in Port Harcourt.

Some of the placards displayed by the protesters read: “APC Rivers, where are our forms; Amaechi has hijacked the national screening committee to his private hotel; APC please give Rivers State people an open contest and APC does not mean Amaechi Private Company,” among others.

President, Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah ( middle) with an award presented to him by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria ( MWAN) at the opening ceremony of the ongoing NMA’S 62nd Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.