The Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday, boycotted the annual Workers’ Day celebration but rather staged a protest in solidarity with suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other democratically elected leaders in the state.

The workers from different unions who gathered at the NLC state secretariat in Port Harcourt, embarked on the protest.

The labour said the demonstration was organised in defence of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who were suspended in March amid a political crisis.

The national leadership of NLC had earlier announced its decision to shun the traditional celebration, citing deepening concerns over federal intervention in the state’s affairs.

This included what they described as a looming threat of a state of emergency being imposed by the federal government.

Addressing workers at the state secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor and the TUC chairman, comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, called for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended governor.

The secretary to the Rivers state government, Professor Worika Ibibia, who was not invited by the NLC, however, attended the event with some government officials.