Police Deployed To Rivers LGAs As Tension Mounts

The Police have deployed armed officers to the headquarters of four local government areas, LGAs in Rivers State following the expiration of the LG chairmen who took office during the term of the erstwhile governor, Mr Nyesom Wike.

GWG.ng reports that police vans are currently positioned at the entrances of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ahoada East and Ogu/Bolo LGAs.

Earlier, young people in Degema and Asari/Toru LGAs took over their respective council headquarters to protest against the extension of the tenure of the local government chairmen.

Viral social media videos captured the youths chanting solidarity songs, expressing support for individuals anticipated to be appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to oversee the councils temporarily.

The outgoing chairmen, aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, had their tenure prolonged through an amended Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018, approved by the faction of the State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

 However, a Rivers State High Court ruling on May 21, 2024, invalidated this extension, declaring Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

Despite the court’s decision, Samuel Nwanosike, chairman of Ikwerre LGA, has declared his intent to continue serving. In contrast, two chairmen from Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro, who are loyal to Fubara, marked the conclusion of their tenures with a thanksgiving ceremony on Sunday.

Governor Fubara has not yet released an official roster of Caretaker Committee Chairmen to manage the operations of the various LGAs following the expiration of the chairmen’s tenures.

Meanwhile, the deployment of the police to the LGAs is expected to heighten the political crisis in Rivers State.

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