No less than 30 supporters of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, have been arrested by the police in Rivers State.
An eyewitness said the supporters were arrested during a meeting on Sunday in G.R.A. Port Harcourt.
According to him, armed police officers in about 6 Toyota Hilux marked Intelligence Unit surrounded the meeting venue at Omerelu Street, by Salvation ministries Headquarters, G.R.A. Port Harcourt, where State and Local Government leaders of the Atiku Support Organisation were gathered.
He said the meeting was part of the preparation for the People’s Democratic Party presidential rally slated to hold on 11th February 2023.
“Upon realising the armed men were sent to stop the meeting, some of us escaped through the fence sustaining wounds caused by barbed wire, while over 30 of our members, state and L.G.A. leaders, most of whom are women were arrested and taken away in two white Hilux of the intelligence unit, while about 4 Hilux heavily armed with police have sealed up the meeting venue.
The whereabouts of the arrested party members remain unknown, but sources said they might be charged in court on Monday for illegal gatherings.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has been in a political battle with the Atiku over the refusal of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.
Last week, the governor revoked approval granted to the party’s presidential campaign council to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium for its rally following allegations that there is an alliance between the PDP PCC and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, A.P.C.
The spokeswoman of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
