The Rivers State Police Command has deployed personnel to the secretariats of some local government councils in the state, following the expiration of the tenure of Local Government chairmen in the state.
Police vans have been positioned at the entrances of Port Harcourt City; Obio/Akpor; Ahoada East and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas, as youths in Degema and Asari/Toru Local Government Areas earlier occupied their respective council secretariats protesting the extension of the tenure of the chairmen.
The outgoing chairmen, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had their tenure extended by an amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018 by the faction of the State House of Assembly headed by Martins Amaewhule.
The extension was, however, nullified by a Rivers State High Court ruling on May 21, which declared the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 as inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, but the chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, has vowed to remain in office, while two chairmen from Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro, who are loyal to Fubara, celebrated the expiration of their tenures with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.
Meanwhile, governor Fubara is yet to release an official list of Caretaker Committee Chairmen to manage the affairs of the various local government areas following the tenure expiration.
