Rivers State Faces Crisis Over Council Chairmen Tenure Extension

A fresh crisis is brewing in Rivers State regarding the tenure of the 23 local government council chairmen.

Former militant warlord and Niger Delta leader, Muhajid Asari Dokubo, has urged the council chairmen to accept the end of their three-year tenure and “go home quietly.”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier instructed the chairmen, with support from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to step down at the end of their terms.

However, the chairmen have refused, claiming that a pro-Wike faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly extended their tenure.

The Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, modified the law to allow the chairmen to extend their terms by six months, citing Fubara’s alleged failure to hold local government elections.

During the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in Port Harcourt, Asari Dokubo stated that extending the chairmen’s tenure is unconstitutional.

He emphasized that the former chairmen cannot unilaterally extend their terms and expect this to be accepted, warning them against provoking the “people’s power.”

“Local government tenure has expired today, June 17, 2024. They should quietly go home. If they want to seek re-election in accordance with the constitution, they should do so.

But there is no tenure elongation in the constitution,” Dokubo declared.

He cautioned against causing unnecessary problems for the state and advised young people not to be used as political tools. Dokubo further stated, “Only one man can be governor of Rivers State at a time.

No individual can take Rivers State people for a ride and pocket us.”

Dokubo highlighted the importance of respecting the people’s power, noting that residents have taken over local government secretariats to assert their rights.

“The people of Rivers State are exercising their power, and they are ready to take over until the government is ready to conduct a new election,” he concluded.