The situation in Rivers State stems from a legal dispute surrounding the extension of the tenure of past council chairmen by the Martins Amaewhule Assembly.
According to Comrade Enefaa Georgewill, the South-South zonal chairman of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) in Rivers, a competent court ruled against the Assembly's authority to make such laws. He emphasized that the police should adhere to the court's decision and maintain neutrality until the Appeal Court delivers a final ruling on the matter.
Recall that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, acting on orders from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), deployed officers to oversee the local government councils.
This move has led to the newly appointed caretaker chairmen carrying out their duties remotely from various locations, such as homes, hotels, and other convenient places.
According to Vanguard, Comrade Georgewill said, “A competent court of jurisdiction had ruled that the Martins Amaewhule Assembly had no right to make laws for the extension of the tenure of the past council chairmen. Police ought to obey the subsisting judgment and remain neutral in the matter pending the final ruling by the Appeal Court."