Rivers LG chairmen dare Fubara, vow to remain in office beyond tenure

The Rivers State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has slammed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of tempering with funds meant for the 23 LGs in the state in the last 12 months.

The association also alleged that the governor withheld the LG funds for April, while one of the councils, Emuoha, has not received the funds due to it since March 2024.

The body noted that the action of the Fubara-led state government has denied the local government chairmen of their functions in the administration of their councils, which they said is tantamount to proscribing the local government system in the state.

They also vowed not to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure later in June, this year, insisting that there is an existing law which allows them to remain in office for at least six months, as the governor is not prepared to conduct local government elections.

The State ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, stated this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday.

Ihunda, who was flanked by 21 of his colleagues also said the security votes due to the various councils which are used to protect the LGs have not been released to them, saying these are signs of highhandedness and dictatorship by the governor.

Also speaking, the ALGON Legal Adviser and Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Chief Erastus Awortu, shed light on why the council chairmen would remain in office beyond June when their tenure will expire.

Awortu explained, “Yes, we were elected in 2021 and our tenure will expire in June. By now, local government elections ought to have been conducted and concluded, waiting for swearing-in for those that are victorious.

“But the state House of Assembly has seen that no action has been taken concerning conducting local government elections and in their wisdom to ensure that there is no vacuum, we must maintain a democratically elected system as the constitution and in the local government law of Rivers State.