JUST IN: Fubara beats Wike again, swears in new LG Chairmen

Maureen Aguta

Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara, Sunday, inaugurated the local government chairmen and councillors elected in the state on Saturday, few hours after they claimed victory, in apparent move to preempt the next plot of Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to scuttle the process.

A statement by Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), on Sunday, said the inauguration of the Chairmen – 22 from the Action Peoples Party (APP), and one still outstanding, which is expected to be announced before the ceremony, would take place by 4:00 pm at the Executive Council Chambers of the state’s Government House in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), had declared the APP, winner of the 22 chairmanship seats of the 23 the local government area, while that of Etche, was left out because collation was still going on by the time Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), of RSIEC, made the announcement on Saturday.

Dangogo’s statement, read: “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State, will today Sunday, October 6, 2024, swear-in the newly elected Council Chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4:00 pm. The newly elected Chairmen, along with one (1) guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30 pm.”

Many Nigerians, including Dan Nwanyanwu, National Chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), had advised the governor to inaugurate the LG executives immediately after their election to avoid a fresh trick of Wike to scuttle the process, including through the courts.