Tension Grips Rivers As Appeal Court Is Set To Deliver Judgment On Pro-Wike Lawmakers, Fubara Camp’s Case

Tensions continue to escalate in Rivers State as all parties await the Court of Appeal’s decision regarding the leadership crisis.

During the last hearing, the parties submitted their final addresses to the court, and the suit was adjourned for judgment.

The former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, along with 24 others, filed a case against the high court-backed Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and five others loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Amaewhule and his group are urging the court to halt the implementation of a high court ruling that removed them from office, to pause any further actions in the case, and to nullify any decisions made by Oko-Jumbo while in office. They contend that the trial court went beyond its authority.

The main crisis borders on the administration of the 23 local government areas. The former chairmen, whose tenures have expired, insist they have the right to remain in office based on an amended law by the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

On Monday, June 17, Governor Fubara directed all Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to take charge of the 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 have refused to vacate their positions, claiming that the Amaewhule-led Assembly extended their tenure by six months. This refusal led to violent clashes on Tuesday between supporters of the current Governor and those of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). At least two security operatives were killed, and several protesters were injured, as confirmed by the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringo-Koko.

In response, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, ordered state command operatives to take over the local government secretariats to prevent further violence. He also deployed the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to assist in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.

In a 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 were screened by the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Jumbo, and were sworn in by the governor on the same day.

However, the police barred the newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen from accessing their offices in all 23 local government headquarters, with the secretariats barricaded by police patrol vans. Governor Fubara stated that the caretaker chairmen will operate from alternative secretariats and they have been doing so ever since.