JUST IN: Governor Fubara Replaces 23 Rivers Council Bosses Amid Tension

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed heads of local government administration (HLGAs) to take control of the state’s 23 council areas, following the expiration of the statutory three-year tenure of the elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors. In a statewide broadcast this morning, Fubara emphasized the need for HLGAs to serve with renewed vigour while awaiting further directives.

Fubara stated, “Heads of Local Government Administration are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together.”

The transition has sparked unrest in several councils. In Degema and Asari-Toru, youths have taken over the secretariats, demanding the exit of their chairmen. Demonstrators at Degema council secretariat vowed to stay put until their demands are met, singing solidarity songs and asserting that the chairman’s tenure expired on June 17. Similar tensions arose in Asari-Toru, where youths barricaded the council gates to prevent officials from entering.

The situation in Port Harcourt City Council remains tense, with four police patrol vans stationed at the gates to maintain order. The police have vowed to enforce the court’s status quo order, aiming to prevent any escalation into violence.

Despite the unrest, outgoing council chairmen are resisting the transition, citing a court ruling that supported an extension of their tenures by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. Niger Delta activist Asari Dokubo, however, has called on the council chairmen to vacate their positions, stating their tenures have legally ended.

Governor Fubara has maintained that the council chairmen’s tenure extensions are unconstitutional. The situation is further complicated by a court order recognizing a three-man House of Assembly, which invalidated the extensions approved by the 27-member Assembly. The governor has reportedly submitted names for seven-man caretaker committees to replace the outgoing officials, pending approval from the Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, has deployed officers to monitor the councils and ensure public safety. He urged parents to caution their children against involvement in the unrest, warning that any lawbreakers would face severe consequences.

Disu reassured residents of their safety, stating, “We are aware of the crisis regarding the tenure of the local government chairmen, and the Court of Appeal has ordered all parties to exercise restraint until the 20th of this month. We expect everyone to respect this and allow peace to prevail.”