June 17, (THEWILL)- There is palpable tension in Rivers State, as the tenure of council chairmen, their deputies and councillors, who were elected in 2021 ends this Monday, June 17, 2024.
Ahead of the expected announcement of a Caretaker Committee by Governor Siminalaya Fubara, to oversee local government administration in the state, youths, on Monday, shut down Degema LGA.
Earlier, some of the elected council officials loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, led by Emohua Local Council boss, Chidi Lloyd, had 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.
THEWILL recalls that a state High Court in Port Harcourt had 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.
Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said that “maintaining the status quo,” as directed by the Appeal court entails that Victor Oko-Jumbo continues to function as the Speaker of the State Assembly and that the council chairmen would exit office on June 17.
Speaking earlier, Amaewhule said, “We have not received any request for LOCAL Govt. Caretaker Chairmen List From Gov. FUBARA and we expect that he won’t send as it is an aberration.”
However, findings by THEWILL show that some local council heads across the state have packed and exited the council office by Saturday, June 15.
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