Rivers Crisis: Tension persists ahead Appeal Court judgement

There is unending tension in Rivers State as feuding parties await the decision of the Court of Appeal.

News Direct recalls that at the last hearing, parties presented their final address to the court, after which the suit was adjourned for judgement.

The former speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 others are before the court against the high court-backed Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.

Amaewhule and the others are requesting the court to halt the implementation of a high court ruling that removed them from office, pause any further actions in the case, and nullify any decisions made by Jumbo while in office.

They also sought a speedy resolution of the matter, arguing that the trial court had overstepped its authority.

At the moment, the crisis centres around the running of the 23 local government areas, as the former chairmen, whose tenure have expired, are insisting that they have the right to remain in office, citing an amended law by the embattled Amaewhuke-led House of Assembly.

Governor Fubara had on Monday, June 17, directed all Heads of Local Government Administration in the state to take charge of councils starting Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

In a broadcast, the governor instructed the HLGAs to “immediately take charge of the Councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together.”

However, the former chairmen vowed to remain in office, insisting that the embattled faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led Amaewhuke had extended their tenure by six months.

Their refusal to quit the office triggered controversies that turned bloody on Tuesday when supporters of the incumbent governor and Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT clashed.

At least, two security operatives paid the supreme price during the violent clash. At the same time, scores of other protesters were injured as confirmed by the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringo-Koko.

Subsequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun ordered the operatives of the state Command to take over the LG secretariats to forestall more bloodshed and prevent further deterioration of security in the state.

The IGP specifically deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team, IRT, to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.

In a very swift move, Governor Fubara on Wednesday nominated caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas to replace the pro-Nyesom Wike former chairmen.

The caretaker chairmen screened by the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Victor Jumbo were equally sworn in by the governor the same day.

But the police barred the newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen from accessing their offices in all the 23 LG headquarters as all the secretariats were barricaded with police patrol vans.

Governor Fubara, however, said Caretaker chairmen will operate from alternative secretariats.