The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday in Abuja demanded immediate unsealing of local government councils in Rivers by the Police.

This is contained in a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

The party described the action of the police action as "unconstitutional, reprehensible abuse of power and brazen show of partisanship’’ in barring caretaker committees lawfully appointed by the state government from taking charge of the councils.

It added that the action was an affront to the ruling of the High Court.

"The ruling, on Thursday dissolved the 22 local government councils unlawfully imposed by the immediate past administration in the state, leading to the appointment of caretaker committees by Governor Nyesom Wike.

"It was curious that the police allowed the dissolution of local government councils and appointment of caretaker committees in the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled Plateau and Kaduna states.

"These states were allowed dissolution of councils even without the orders of the court but elected to clamp down on councils in Rivers State, which came as a result of judicial pronouncement,” the party stated.

The party, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police to come out clean on the matter and assure the nation of the non-partisanship of the police by ordering the immediate unsealing of River state councils.

It also called on Nigerians and the international community to note the development in the state.

The development, according to the party, "is yet another clear indication that the Nigerian police may have become a partisan and compromised instrument in the hands of the APC federal government to destabilise PDP controlled states, particularly Rivers." (NAN)

•Photo shows Olisa Metuh.