Political Crisis Escalates in Rivers State as Tenure of Local Government Chairmen Ends

Tension continues to mount in Rivers State following the recent announcement by Governor Siminialayi Fubara concerning the tenure of local government chairmen in the state.

The political crisis initially began with attempts by certain Members of the State House of Assembly to impeach Fubara in October 2023.

The crisis escalated when 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress, causing a split in the House of Assembly.

Efforts to bring about peace between the factions culminated in a peace agreement mediated by President Bola Tinubu, but the truce was short-lived.

A High Court ruling nullified a State Law that aimed to extend the tenures of local government chairmen by six months, emphasizing the need to abide by the Nigerian Constitution.

Following the expiration of the chairmen’s terms on June 17, 2024, Governor Fubara directed the heads of local government administrations to assume control of the local councils.

In response to the directive, tensions rose as some chairmen refused to vacate their offices, leading to clashes between supporters of Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike.

The matter was further complicated by a Court of Appeal hearing to determine the status of the lawmakers who defected, adding another layer to the ongoing political turmoil in the state.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has taken legal action against the practice of state governors appointing caretaker committees to oversee local government affairs, highlighting the need for local government autonomy.

The Senate has also called for an end to the allocation of funds to caretaker committees, advocating for the adherence to democratic processes in local government governance.