An Imo state lawmaker of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was on Monday morning, January 6th shot dead by political thugs allegedly hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The lawmaker named Ahamefule Maduabuchi who is one of the Councillors of Isu Local Government Area of Imo State was shot at the LGA headquarters as he was trying to resume duty.
Trouble started on Monday after the elected LGA chairmen and councillors illegally suspended by Governor Emeka Ihedioha besieged the 27 LGAs headquarters across the state with the intent to resume duty as the supreme court and the Chief Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Tanko had ordered.
Recall that on 11th Dec 2019 the Supreme Court of Nigeria in a five man panel headed by Justice Olubolade Joe in a unanimous judgement barred state governors from having the power to sack elected local government chairmen and councilors henceforth.
According to the ruling:
1. No state Governor will henceforth have the powers to sack dully elected local government chairmen and the appointment of caretaker chairmen is also barred .
2. The act giving legislative powers to state Assembly members to undergo a process by sacking elected local government chairmen is NULLED and VOID.
3. That a copy of the judgement should be served to all 36 state Houses of Assembly and the Minister of FCT on or before the 30th December 2019.
Armed with the copies of the supreme court ruling, the chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors went to their offices to resume work before they were attacked by members of Ihedioha’s Interim Management Committee chairmen and their hired thugs who were protected by police officers.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that the State Commissioner of Police, Olaniyi Fafowora, had launched an investigation into the killing of the councillor.
Ikeokwu said, “Yes, we are aware of the killing of one of the suspended councillors at Isu LGA today but the commissioner of police has launched an investigation into the killing with of view to apprehending the killers.
“The CP had a meeting with the suspended councillors and they have agreed to sheath their swords for now. The area is calm and the state is calm. People should go about their lawful business without fear.”
Below is the video from the scene of the incident.
