…as disagreements over council chairmen’s tenure expiration spark protests
. Police take over LG secretariats amid tension
Wilfred Alabo-Jack, PortHarcourt
The raging battle for the control of political power in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, shifted to the local government areas in the state.
Following the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in the state, protesting youths stormed the secretariats of some councils and occupied the buildings to prevent the outgoing chairmen from extending their tenure.
With the tension generated by this development, police on Monday deployed heavily armed operatives to the secretariats of four local government councils in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, police vans were stationed at the entrances of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ahoada East and Ogu/Bolo LGAs.
Youths in Degema and Asari/Toru LGAs had earlier on Monday taken over their respective council secretariats to protest the extension of the tenure of the council chairmen.
The youths were seen in viral videos on social media singing solidarity songs in support of the caretaker committees Governor Siminalayi Fubara is expected to appoint to temporarily manage the local councils.
Recall that the outgoing council chairmen, who were elected during Wike’s tenure as Rivers governor and have remained loyal to him, had their tenure extended by an amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018 by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the State House of Assembly.
But the law extending their tenure was nullified by a Rivers State High Court ruling on May 21, 2024.
The court had declared the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 as inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
But inspite of the court’s ruling, Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike, vowed to remain in office.
However, two other council chairmen of Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs, who are loyal to Fubara, on Sunday, celebrated the expiration of their tenures with a church thanksgiving service.
Governor Fubara has yet to release the official list of members of the Caretaker Committees to manage the affairs of the various councils following the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing LGA chairmen.
