The political crisis rocking Rivers State deepened on Monday as Hector Ekakita, the Chief Security Officer of Ahoada East Local Government Area, distanced himself from the brutal assault on the council’s Sole Administrator, Mr Goodluck Iheamnacho, while linking the incident to political appointees loyal to the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ekakita, who was recently named by the police as a prime suspect in the attack, denied any involvement, insisting that the chaos which led to Iheamnacho’s public humiliation and forced resignation was triggered by the council boss’s alleged patronage of Fubara’s political supporters.
In an interview on a TV station, Ekakita claimed that some aggrieved appointees of the council who had not received their entitlements were angered by reports that Iheamnacho was offering hotel accommodation and political appointments to members of the pro-Fubara “SIMplified” group.
“The appointees were angry that while they had not been paid, the sole administrator was allegedly giving appointments and support to Fubara’s supporters,” Ekakita said.
“That was the root of the problem. I had no hand in any assault. In fact, I alerted the police when I noticed the unrest.”
The embattled CSO also challenged the narrative that he masterminded the assault, pointing out that Iheamnacho had publicly denied being attacked in a separate radio interview with Nigeria Info 92.3 FM.
“The council chairman himself said it was between him and his unpaid political appointees. He never mentioned my name,” he added.
Ekakita further alleged that financial misconduct may have contributed to the tension, stating that Iheamnacho’s critics had accused him of embezzling council funds. “That issue is for the police and EFCC to handle,” he remarked.
However, multiple videos circulating online show a visibly shaken Iheamnacho being manhandled and coerced into signing a resignation letter, fuelling nationwide outrage over the incident.
While the Rivers State Police Command confirmed it is investigating the matter, no official statement has been issued regarding the new claims made by Ekakita or the alleged involvement of Fubara’s political allies.
The unfolding crisis is the latest in a string of political tensions in Rivers State, where the battle for control between Governor Fubara and loyalists of his predecessor continues to polarize the state’s political landscape.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that calls for justice and proper investigation have grown louder, with rights activists and political observers warning that unchecked political violence could further destabilize governance at the grassroots level.
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