Youths in Rivers State have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the proposed extension of the tenure of office of council chairmen in the state.
The demonstrators obstructed the entrances of various council secretariats, including those in Degema, Asari-Toru, and Akuku-Toru LGAs.
The protest ensued after the Rivers State Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Martins Amaewuele, overrode Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto and approved a contentious bill prolonging the tenure of council chairmen by six months.
This action has been widely condemned as an effort to undermine the democratic process.
In a video, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike, Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, was observed disparaging the governor and pledging to remain in office, citing the contentious bill. Nevertheless, a Rivers State High Court has invalidated the bill and instructed Amaewuele and his colleagues to cease acting as assembly members.
The demonstration is viewed as a reaction to the perceived disregard for the court order and the attempted undermining of the democratic process. The situation is still evolving, and the specifics of a meeting conducted by former governor Wike with the outgoing chairmen at his residence in Port Harcourt have yet to be disclosed. The protesters were featured in separate videos shared on Facebook by purported supporters of Governor Fubara.
