BREAKING: Tension Mounts In Rivers Following LG Polls, Eleme LG Secretariat Set Ablaze

Unknown arsonists have allegedly set ablaze the headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State on Monday.

This happened few hours after the Nigeria Police Force unsealed the 23 local government Secretariat and ordered its personnel to vacate the areas with immediate effect. 

This follows the recently concluded local government elections on Saturday, October, 5, and swearing in of the duly elected 23 council chairmen by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday.

The incident occurred as Brain Gokpa, the newly elected chairman, arrived at the secretariat accompanied by his councillors and supporters.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers targeted specific buildings within the complex.

Relatedly, gunshots and dynamite explosion reportedly rocked some other parts of by persons and groups suspected to belong to the two opposing political interests in the state. 

Some of the places were Ahoada East, Eleme, Etche,b Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Khana, Oyigbo LGA.

Oyigbo Council secretariat alleged by pro-Fubara supporters led by somebody identified as CJ Rambo in company of security men. 

In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), suspected supporters of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly took over the council headquarters in Omoku. 

It was learnt that at the Ikwerre local government area headquarters, Isiokpo, acclaimed council workers loyal to the former chairman, Samuel Nwanosike, accused the state governor of being behind the shooting and dynamite explosion around the area. 

They vowed to resist the continuation of what they described as 'illegality' of the governor in their council. 

Last Thursday, anti-local government election protesters had staged a peaceful demonstration in Port Harcourt, calling on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to obey court order not to conduct the poll.

They warned that any attempt to conduct the council election would be invitation to anarchy in the state.