The political tension in Rivers State has taken a fresh twist as the 21 local government chairmen, recently sacked by a Supreme Court ruling, have declared their intention to return to office tomorrow.
This move signals a deepening crisis in the state’s governance and sets the stage for a potential clash between factional political camps in the state.
In a widely circulated video, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, former chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, asserted that their decision to reclaim their positions is grounded in a six-month tenure extension granted by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
Nwanosike stated, “My name is Dr. Nwanosike Samuel, chairman of Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers State. By the judgment of the Supreme Court, I am still the chairman of the LGA because the Rivers State House of Assembly extended our tenure by six months.”
Report by Leadership Newspapers says despite repeated attempts by its correspondent to reach other former chairmen for comments, calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.
The Amaewhule-led House of Assembly had, in April 2024, invoked Section 9(2) of the Rivers State Local Government Law 2024 to extend the tenure of the former chairmen by six months, citing the need to maintain governance until new elections could be conducted. Although Governor Siminalayi Fubara refused to assent to the law, the Assembly over
Discussion about this post