Tenure expiration: Gov Fubara to decide Rivers LG chairmen fate; youths demand vacation from office
June 17, 2024, might appear as an ordinary day to many, but it holds great significance in Rivers State.
This date signifies the end of the three-year term for elected local government chairmen, a milestone outlined in the state’s Local Government Law.
The day has become a flashpoint for political unrest, largely due to the intensifying feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The crisis significantly escalated following a fire in the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, leading to a deep division within the Assembly.
The split saw 27 members supporting Speaker Martin Amaewhule, while four members aligned with the House Leader, Edison Ehie, who was the Deputy Speaker in the last Assembly.
Ehie was later replaced by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Amidst this turmoil, Amaewhule’s Assembly amended the Local Government Law to extend the tenure of elected chairmen and councilors by six months if elections were not held before their term ended.
However, this amendment was nullified by a High Court ruling, following a suit filed by the council chairmen of Opobo/Nkoro and Bonny.
The pro-Wike chairmen faced additional setbacks when a State High Court restrained Amaewhule’s group from acting as lawmakers and nullified their legislative actions.
The final blow came with a recent Appeal Court ruling, which upheld the lower court’s order restraining Amaewhule and his colleagues.
While this decision might have settled the confusion, tensions escalated when Amaewhule and his 24 colleagues addressed the media on the same day, warning that the Assembly, referring to themselves, would not accept a list of caretaker committee members.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara recently reminded the council chairmen that their days in office are numbered. Political observers expect him to make a decision regarding the chairmanship of the 23 local government areas.