Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has solidified his authority in the state by swearing in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and was conducted under tight security.
This move comes shortly after Governor Fubara forwarded the list of nominees to the state House of Assembly, which is currently led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo. The nominees were invited for screening by the lawmakers on Wednesday morning.
The appointment of the caretaker chairmen has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing political crisis in the state. This situation comes after the Rivers Assembly passed the Local Government Amendment Bill into law, which Governor Fubara refused to sign.
The lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, eventually overturned the governor’s refusal by vetoing the bill.
The amended law granted the Rivers State Assembly the authority to extend the tenure of council chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and councillors when it is impractical to conduct elections before the end of their three-year tenure.
However, a court nullified the amended law, leading to an ongoing appeal. The appeal court is scheduled to deliver a ruling on the matter on June 20, 2024.
