According to the Daily Trust, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a federal lawmaker and constitutional lawyer, stated firmly, "The Supreme Court's upcoming decision on local government autonomy will not affect the tenure end for Rivers LGA Chairmen, which is set for Monday." He praised Governor Similanayi Fubara, saying, "I commend Governor Fubara for upholding democratic values by allowing the chairmen to complete their term despite the challenges they faced."
Directly addressing the outgoing chairmen, Ugochinyere emphasized, "It's crucial that you prepare your handover notes before your term expires." He cautioned against any attempts to unlawfully extend their tenure, stating, "Let's be clear: elected officials have specific timelines to follow, and they must respect the legal transition of power."
In conclusion, Ugochinyere affirmed, "The pending Supreme Court decision focuses on local government autonomy, not extending the terms of outgoing chairmen. There will be no tenure extension in Rivers State." He underscored, "It's imperative that we proceed with the scheduled local government elections to uphold our democratic principles."