A political showdown is brewing in Rivers State as 27 lawmakers loyal to former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have vowed to block Governor Siminalayi Fubara's attempts to install caretaker committees in the state's 23 local government areas.
According to a report by PUNCH, the pro-Wike Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, made it clear during a news briefing in the state capital that the Assembly will not entertain any list of caretaker committee members from the governor, insisting that such an arrangement goes against the constitution.
"The Assembly will not accept such a caretaker arrangement, which he described as an aberration," Amaewhule said.
This comes as the tenure of the current 23 local government chairmen is set to expire on June 17, 2024. The lawmakers' move is seen as a bid to prevent Fubara from gaining control over the local governments, which have been a stronghold of Wike's supporters.
Rivers State has drawn the attention of the judiciary, with the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt ordering all parties involved in the ongoing House of Assembly crisis to maintain the status quo.