Governor Fubara orders immediate takeover of Rivers LG Councils, sets stage for fresh elections

In response to the Supreme Court’s recent judgment nullifying the 2024 Rivers State budget and last year’s local government elections, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume control of the 23 local government councils.

This decision will remain in effect until the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducts fresh elections.

The governor also instructed outgoing council chairmen to formally hand over authority to the HLGAs by Monday, March 3, 2025.

This move follows the Supreme Court’s ruling, which invalidated the previous elections and halted allocations to Rivers State until compliance with proper legislative procedures is achieved.

Governor Fubara, who gave the directive in a statewide broadcast in Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday in response to the Supreme Court judgment, explained that the measure became imperative as a result of the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system in Nigeria.

The Governor said that although his administration disagrees with the judgments, it is bound to obey the orders made therein by the court as a law-abiding government.

The Governor regretted that with the pronouncements of the court, the State appears to be back in trying times, but quickly called on the people and residents of the State to remain calm, and peacefully go about their legitimate daily activities while the government continues to do everything in its powers to advance good governance to the citizens.