In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has instructed the Heads of Administration across the 23 Local Government Areas to assume control following the conclusion of the elected council chairmen’s three-year term.
This directive was issued during a state broadcast on Tuesday morning, citing constitutional provisions and the necessity for maintaining peace and order.
Governor Fubara expressed gratitude for the service of the outgoing council chairmen.
Concurrently, two LGA Chairmen have expressed their readiness to vacate their positions in accordance with the State’s Local Government Law of 2018, including Dame Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox of Bonny LGA and Enyiada Cookeygam of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, both of whom had previously contested tenure extensions in court.
The situation escalated as protests erupted in Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru LGAs, with demonstrators demanding a handover from the chairmen.
The chairmen appealed for calm, noting that the tenure extension issue is currently under judicial review, and called for law enforcement to prevent any violence.
