The All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency following the political crisis in the state.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Tony Okocha, made the call on Wednesday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
According to Okocha, the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the police are now helpless in the lingering crisis.
He said, “Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.
“The Governor is helpless, the police are helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, and the upsurge that is going on in the state. I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”
Media reports that the state has been in panic since Monday following the expiration of the tenure of the 23 local government chairmen.
The chairmen who are loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike had defied Fubara’s order to vacate their offices, claiming that the State House of Assembly extended their tenure by six months.
Meanwhile, the pro-Fubara lawmakers led by the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo on Wednesday morning screened 23 caretaker chairmen nominated by the governor.