Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sworn in 23 new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The swearing-in was done on Wednesday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital amid tight security.
The exercise was carried out at the Council Chambers with the first batch of 11 taking their oath of office.
The swearing in comes a day after he forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo.
The lawmakers had invited the nominees for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday.
The development adds another twist to the political crisis in the state months after the Rivers Assembly passed the Local Government Amendment Bill into law.
While Fubara did not assent to the bill, the lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule vetoed him.
The law empowered the Rivers State Assembly to extend the tenure of council chairpersons, their vice, and councillors where it is deemed impossible to hold elections before the end of their three-year tenure.
But a court nullified the amended law, prompting an appeal. The appeal court is set to deliver a ruling on the matter on June 20, 2024.
Earlier, police authorities in the oil-rich state cautioned against trouble, warning that they would clamp down on trouble makers
The Rivers Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu who spoke at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt appealed to politicians and their supporters to respect the appeal and cease hostilities pending the hearing and determination of their case.
He, however, cautioned that Rivers Police Command is combat-ready and won’t condone any attempt to disturb the peace in the South-South state.
Fubara Swears In New LG Chairmen In Rivers State
