PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership has raised alarm over what it described as an attempt by Chidi Lloyd to use the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State to intimidate political opponents.
Addressing a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the President General of the group, Chizy Enyi Esq., alleged that Lloyd, who is laying claim to the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship ticket for Emohua Local Government Area (Emolga), has been coercing the police, particularly the C4i Strike Force, popularly known as Octopus, in the case involving Hon. Mfata ThankGod.
Enyi recounted that Mfata was arrested on Monday, August 25, 2025, by military personnel over a land dispute with his associate, Kelechi Onuegbu, and subsequently handed over to the police. According to him, despite meeting the bail conditions set by the police, Lloyd stormed the station at about 10:30pm the same day, ordering that Mfata should not be released, citing a petition he promised to submit later.
“The said order by Chidi Lloyd without a petition before the police was obeyed. Too bad,” Enyi said, describing the action as unlawful and politically motivated.
The group further accused Lloyd of a pattern of using police arrests to silence perceived political rivals, naming Mr. Eric Wokocha, Hon. Okah Francis Chinedu, and others as past victims. Enyi added that Lloyd had publicly vowed to “deal with” Mfata ThankGod for failing to support his political ambition.
According to Enyi, Lloyd’s claim of defamation against Mfata should have been pursued through a civil suit in court, not through the police. “If Sir Dr. Peter Odili, who is not a lawyer, could file a civil suit on defamation of character against Dr. Dakuku Peterside, I wonder what Chidi Lloyd wanted if not to instil fear and silence his perceived political enemies,” he said.
The group also warned that such actions could return Rivers State to an era of political intimidation reminiscent of the days of former Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu, which it said damaged the image of the police in the state.
“We want the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to be aware of those who are bent on dragging his reputation into disrepute. We urge him not to politicise this matter,” Enyi cautioned.
Calling on Rivers people and Nigerians to resist intimidation, the group insisted that the political space in the state must remain open for opposition voices. “We are perturbed that Chidi Lloyd and his cohorts want to turn Rivers State into a state where opposition voices will not be heard. This must not be allowed,” Enyi declared.
