Political tensions in Rivers State escalated as armed men, believed to be political thugs, engaged in a gun battle with the convoy of Chibuike Amaechi, leader of the African Democratic Congress in the South-South region, during his visit to Ubima community for party registration activities.
The incident unfolded between Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and ex-minister, was heading to complete his e-registration as a member of the African Democratic Congress.
According to accounts from the scene, the suspected thugs had set up a roadblock prior to Amaechi’s arrival around 12:15 p.m. on Friday, turning away buses carrying ADC members en route to the event. This followed an earlier arson attack on Thursday night, where the ADC ward office in Ubima—Amaechi’s hometown—was set ablaze by hired assailants.
The invaders, armed with heavy weaponry, fired sporadically into the community and targeted the gate of Amaechi’s family house with bullets, aiming to prevent his entry. However, upon the convoy’s approach, security operatives accompanying Amaechi confronted the attackers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
The superior response from the trained security team forced the thugs to retreat into nearby bushes, averting further escalation.
Addressing party members gathered for the e-registration exercise, Amaechi urged restraint. He expressed gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their prompt intervention.
Speaking after inspecting the damaged party office, Amaechi commended the security agencies’ professionalism. “I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism; immediately I made contact with them,” he said.
He added, “In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind these criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came out, and the DSS came out. So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here.”
Amaechi emphasized that such incidents must not persist, calling on authorities to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those responsible. “But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime,” he stated.
He appealed to the Rivers State governor to ensure adequate security across the state to prevent anarchy, warning of potential self-defense measures by citizens if protection fails. “I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die,” Amaechi remarked.
Encouraging calm among supporters, he reiterated the party’s commitment to peace. “But for now everybody should come down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the Director of SSS and the Commandant of NSCDC,” he said.
Amaechi stressed non-violence, leaving investigations to the police, and urged massive mobilization toward national goals. “Our role is to be calm, is to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table,” he noted.
Highlighting economic hardships, he added, “We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger. And there are a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet. We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en masse. You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”
Reports suggest the arson and attack were carried out by thugs loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, amid ongoing rivalries, though no official confirmation has linked specific individuals.
This episode underscores the volatile political landscape in Rivers State, a region long plagued by violence tied to electoral contests, cult activities, and power struggles.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s political trajectory began in the 1990s as a protégé of former Governor Peter Odili, rising to become Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party. He secured the PDP governorship nomination in 2007 but faced disqualification, leading to a Supreme Court ruling that installed him as governor mid-term, serving until 2015.
Amaechi’s fallout with then-President Goodluck Jonathan and First Lady Patience Jonathan over control of Rivers PDP structures prompted his defection to the All Progressives Congress in 2013, contributing to the APC’s 2015 victory. He served as Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2022, overseeing rail projects, before an unsuccessful APC presidential bid in 2022.
His recent alignment with the African Democratic Congress, formalized in early 2026, positions him as a potential 2027 presidential contender, endorsed by the party’s South-South caucus. The ADC, founded in 2005 as the Alliance for Democratic Change and registered in 2006, has historically been a minor player but gained seats in the National Assembly by 2011 and is now eyed for opposition coalitions.
Rivers State’s history of political violence dates to colonial-era tensions but intensified post-independence with ethnic clashes and resource control disputes in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The 1967-1970 civil war scarred the region, followed by militancy in the 1990s over environmental degradation and marginalization.
Cult groups, initially campus-based, evolved into tools for politicians by the 2000s, with gangs like DeyBam and DeyWell dominating Port Harcourt. The 2003 elections marked their consolidation in electoral violence, often sponsored by elites.
Amaechi’s tenure saw efforts to curb insecurity, but clashes persisted, including a 2013 airport incident where supporters of Education Minister Nyesom Wike allegedly attacked a convoy carrying northern governors visiting Amaechi. Their rivalry peaked in 2015-2019, with convoy clashes in 2017 where security details exchanged accusations of assault.
Recent crises, like the 2023-2024 Fubara-Wike feud, involved arson on the State House of Assembly and impeachment attempts, highlighting ongoing instability. Data from the Fund for Peace indicate over 1,000 violence-related deaths in Rivers between 2013 and 2023, linked to cults, elections, and communal strife.
