By Ayo Kehinde
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the 23 local government councils following the Supreme Court’s judgment that nullified the October 5, 2024, council elections in the state.
The apex court had on Friday made two declarations on separate suits on the State. The first was on the conduct of the Local Government election in the state on October 5, last year, which was won by the All People’s Party, APP. The second was to uphold a lower court ruling stopping federal allocations to the state.
On the October 5, 2024, local government election in Rivers State, a five-member panel of justices of the appellate court led by Justice Jamilu Tukur, declared the election invalid, null and void.
On the stopping federal allocations to the state, the court upheld the order of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, which barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.
In a statewide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, on Sunday evening, Fubara instructed the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over to the HLGAs by Monday, March 3, 2025, pending fresh elections to be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
“Given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils,” the governor stated.
He urged residents to remain calm despite the political tension, assuring them that his administration remains committed to governance and stability.
Fubara’s directive follows the Supreme Court’s judgment, which not only invalidated the council elections but also upheld a Federal High Court order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing statutory allocations to Rivers State. Additionally, the apex court ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state House of Assembly to resume legislative functions without hindrance.
Although expressing reservations about the ruling, the governor affirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding the law.
“Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process, and the rule of law,” Fubara said.
He disclosed that his legal team expects to receive certified copies of the judgments by Friday, March 7, 2025, after which the government would thoroughly review and implement them accordingly.
“We are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government. Upon receipt of the certified judgments, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the state forward,” the governor assured.
