Following the verdict of the Supreme Court on the political crisis in Rivers State, former chairmen of 21 of the 23 local government councils have vowed to return to office tomorrow.
In a viral video, a former chairman of Ikwerre local government area, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, said their decision to return to office was based on the extension of their tenure by the Rt. Hon Martins Amaewhule-led legislature.
Nwanosike said: “My name is Dr. Nwanosike Samuel, chairman of Ikwerre local government of Rivers State. By the judgement of the Supreme Court, I am still the chairman of the LGA because the Rivers State House of Assembly extended our tenure by six months.”
Efforts by our correspondent to speak with some of the former chairmen proved abortive as they failed to respond to calls and WhatsApp messages sent to them.
The Amaewhule-led House of Assembly had in April 2024 extended the tenure the former chairmen by another six months based on Section 9(2) of the Rivers State Local Government Law 2024.
The law, which Governor Siminalayi Fubara refused to assent to, but vetoed by the House, empowered the state legislature to extend the tenure of the last democratically elected chairmen by six months pending when election is conducted for a new government to take over the administration of councils.
Fubara had on June 19, 2024, appointed caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of the LGs following the expiration of their tenures.
The caretaker committees oversaw the affairs of the councils until October 7, 2024 when the governor swore-in newly elected chairmen and their councilors.
