Rivers Gov. Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated the caretaker chairpersons for the state’s 23 local government areas on Wednesday morning amid tight security.
The nominees had earlier, on Wednesday, been screened and cleared by the four-member House of Assembly.
After reading a letter from the governor, the Speaker, Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, read out the names of the caretaker committee members.
The swearing-in followed the alleged refusal of some of the outgoing elected local council chairmen to vacate office at the end of their tenure on Monday, June 17.
The Martin Amaewhule faction of the Rivers Assembly, which had defected from the PDP to the APC, extended its tenure for six months, according to the local government chairmen.
However, Fubara had on Tuesday directed heads of administration in the 23 local government areas to take over from the elected council chairmen.
Speaking on Tuesday after a security meeting in Port Harcourt, Fubara said there is no provision for tenure elongation for elected local government chairmen in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
”The law on local government tenure is unambiguous. The court clearly affirmed the position of the law.
“The law is the law; there is no extension of the local government’s tenure in it. The court says so,” he said.
The newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen:
Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
Emouha LGA – David Omereji
Etche LGA – John Otamiri
Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
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