Protesters Take Over Rivers LGAs, Pull Down Wike’s Statue In Obio-Akpor Secretariat

June 18, (THEWILL)- Hundreds of people, including youths, women and men, on Tuesday afternoon, marched to local government secretariats in Rivers State, to effect the order by Governor Siminalaya Fubara directing Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to immediately take charge of the 23 council areas.

At Obio-Akpor LGA headquarters, youths pulled down the statue of the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.

“Wike’s head has fallen down at his own Obio-Akpor LGA headquarters,” they said.

The youths also marched to Ogu/Bolo LGA and Port-Harcourt City LGA among others. Earlier on Monday, youths shut down Degema and Asari-Toru local government areas.

Earlier, some of the elected officials loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, led by Emohua Local Council boss, Chidi Lloyd, vowed not to vacate office after June 17, stating that the tenure of the chairmen had been extended for six months by the State Assembly.

Recall that a State High Court in Port Harcourt had, last month, nullified the tenure extension of the 23 local council chairmen, declaring section 2 of the Rivers State Local Government Law No.4 of 2024, which extended their tenure by six months, as unconstitutional, null, void and inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Ruling on the suit filed by the chairmen of Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro local government areas, Justice Diaketima Kio held that the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly overreached itself and that its actions were contrary to the provisions of the amended Nigerian Constitution.

Also, the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, in its ruling on Thursday, urged the warring parties in the Rivers Assembly crisis to maintain the status quo.

THEWILL had reported that Governor Fubara, on Tuesday, directed HLGAs to take charge of the administration of the 23 council areas following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the councils’ chairmen on Monday, June 17.