Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has instructed Heads of Administration in the 23 Local Government Areas to assume control following the expiration of the three-year term of the elected council chairmen at midnight on Monday. Governor Fubara issued the directive in a public address on Tuesday morning.
He emphasized that this decision aligns with constitutional provisions and the necessity to maintain peace and order in the state.
The governor then expressed gratitude for the dedication and service of the outgoing council chairmen.
In the meantime, two LGA Chairmen in the state have declared their readiness to step down in accordance with the State’s Local Government Law of 2018.
These Chairmen are the first female council chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox, and the Enyiada Cookeygam of Opobo/Nkoro, from the LGA of Governor Fubara.
It is worth noting that both Claude-Wilcox and the Enyiada Cookeygam of Opobo/Nkoro had contested the extension of local government chairmen’s tenure by the Martin Amaewhule Lee assembly in court.
Reports have it that after an event at the government house on Monday, the former council chairmen urged their counterparts in other LGAs to honor the dictates of the law and peacefully vacate office.
