Rivers State Local Government Appointments Stir Controversy
The move comes amid a political crisis in the state, with the outgoing local government chairmen refusing to vacate their offices following the expiration of their tenure. Governor Fubara’s directive to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to take charge of the councils has been met with opposition from some quarters.
The Rivers State Police Command has taken over the 23 local government councils and some critical infrastructure in the state to forestall further violence and maintain law and order. The crisis has its roots in the Local Government Amendment Law passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 House of Assembly members, which empowered the outgoing chairmen to extend their tenure by six months.
The situation has drawn criticism from various groups, including lawmakers in the House of Representatives under the aegis of G-60, who have demanded the trial of the 23 former local government chairmen loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike for alleged treason.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has invited the nominees for screening and confirmation as Chairmen and members of the Caretaker Committees for the 23 local government areas. The screening is scheduled for today at the Hallowed Chambers.
The political crisis in Rivers State highlights the tensions between the executive and legislative branches of government and the challenges of local governance in Nigeria. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the state government will navigate the complex web of political interests and ensure a peaceful transition of power in the local government councils.
Below is the full list
ABUA/ODUAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
MADIGAI DICKSON
Members
AKPILA ASUO
OBIAVEL ABIGO
MAYITON ADOKIYE
NGOZI CHIOMA
EGBAGIRI UDUME EBENEZER
GILBERT ONYEWAYI
AHOADA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
HON. HAPPY BENNETH
Members
CHIME EZEBALIKE
HAROLD EDEMA
KENNETH KASA
UDOMAZUBUIKE
MRS RACHAEL ODUM
EDWARD AZUBUIKE
AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
MR. DADDY JOHN GREEN
Members
MR. AWUCHE CHUKWUEMEKE GIDEON –
NNAMDI OSOKOLO, ESQ
AVOR GREEN EGBO
ORDU CHISA
BEN C. OBOBULA
JOHN PARO
AKUKU TORU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
BARR OTONYE BRIGGS
Member
NYENEMI BRIGGS
ISIMAMA IKIRIKO
CHRISTIAN OBENE
BITEBOBO NELSON AMIEYE
EKARIKA EMMANUEL
OKORITE BOB-MANUEL
ANDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
BARR REGINALD EKAAN
Members
OKEREKE UCHE KALU
INWON FYNEFACE AYAYI
KPENUNKPO-AGOK-AWAYI AMAKIRI GOGO
JOHN I. IDANTE
WARISOFINI E. NKERE
EMEM TIMOTHY EKANEM
ASARI TORU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
OROLOSOMA AMACHREE
Members
JENGOA COTTEREL
MRS AKUROMA-A KENNETH ABBEY
UMUALAPUYE SUKUBO
DAGOGO CHURCHIL WHYTE
LOLO P. CLIFFORD
LAWAL SABIU
BONNY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
ALABOTA ANENGI BARASUA
Members
WARISENIBO OPUBO-WILCOX
ALALI HART
SODIENYE AMAH PEPPLE
TAMUNOSISI DAVID JUMBO
DORIS HART FRANCIS
LUKUMANU SDANU
DEGEMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
ANTHONY SOBEREKON
Members
JOHNNY BRAIDE
VALENTINE MOSES
OPUNABO BENEBO
OBRASUA JOHNBULL
JEMINA EREKOSIMA
REMI SUKU
ELEME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
BRAIN GOKPA
Members
ОКАКА ОВЕ
GODWIN OLLOR
PATIENCE DABOR
EMMANUEL OSAROKIO
MIMI GOSPEL
DIKKO MOHAMMED
EMOHUA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Members
DAVID OMEREN
Members
UCHE MINIKWU
LIGHT OLOMI
JAJA DIMKPA
MONDAY CHIMA
NGOZI OKENWE
IFEANYIJOHN
ETCHE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
JOHN OTAMIRI NKUGBO
Members
PROMISE ONYEGAM
KINGDOM NWAKWOALA
AUSTINE AMADI
NWODU CHIMA
FLORENCE NWALA
CHARLES ECHELOBIA
GOKNA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
KENNETH KPEDEN
Members
DUMIYE MONDAY
KOGBARA AATOR MRS
ISREAL MGBUELO
LEESI SUSAN NAASI
KPOBARI ZARAKPEYE
AKARAKA NWAEZE
IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
DR. DARLINGTON ORJI
Members
ENGR. NEWTON AMADI
ENGR. CHIENE WODIKE
MR DANIELELUKE
DR. AARON CHILIOBU
ICHEM THANKGOD
ONUOCHA HAROLD ONYEMA
KHANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
AMB. MARVIN YOBANA
Members
LEGBORSI YAMAABANA
CHIEF CHARITY DEEMUA
MR EFFORT NDEESOR
CONSTANCE B. NWIFA
JUMBO NEENAENEE
JOSEPH AKASA
OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
AMB. CHUJOKE IHUNWO
Members
FREDERICK IHUIGWE
OWHORNGU NYECHE
MICHEAL OUT
CHILE OGWUTUM
ABIGAIL CHIORLU
DR. MRS EUCHARIA IBEABUCHI
OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
PRINCEWILL EJEKWE
Members
MAJOR ANTHONY
KENNETH EBIRI
DR. LUCKY NWAOBURU
ERIC OGBAMGBA
KINGSLEY OGWE
AKUWATA EGBO
OGU/BOLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
RT. HON. EVANS B. BIP
Members
MR. ARIBIBIA NGEREBARA
MR DADDY OGU
KENNETH AKARI WAKAMA
TARILA NYANABO PEACEMAN
DANIEL M. WISDOM
MUTAGA MUHAMMED
OKRIKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
PRINCESS I.B. OGAN
Members
TOKU OBIANIME
AMEIETAMUNOPIRP LOVEDAY
TAMUNOSIKI LONGJOHN
CHRISTIAN KENDRICK
DANIEL ISAIAH O.
ANDY OKEREKE
OMUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
PROMISE REGINALD
Members
CHINEDU NWODU
HON. CHIKA NWEKE
TONY NWUJI
KINGSLEY OGBONNA
MICHAEL ONWULI
OKECHUKWU MMAKWE
OPOBO/KORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
HON. ENVIADA COOKEY-GAM
Members
GODDY M. PEPPLE
CHARIAH FIBERESIMA
GODWIN JACOB
HAVEY JIM JAJA
DIRI DANDISON TUMINI
MR. ENO PETER
OYIGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
HON. GOGO PHILLIP
Members
MR. IHUOMA SAMUEL
MR. OKEDINACHI UCHENNA
MRERIC ALOZIE
IKECHI GOLDEN UGWUOMA
CHRISTIAN NWANKWO
UJALELE MATHEW
PORT HARCOURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
ICHEMATI EZEBUNWO
Members
CHIEF OGBAMS OJIMAH
MATTHEW TEKENA GBOS/
AMADI KINIKANWO
OLUMATI ISAIAH C.
CHINWE NMERUKINI
LUKEMAN OLADELE
TAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Chairman
HON. MATTHEW DIKE
Members
HON. LEYII L. CUNINWA
HON. BROWNSON NKPENE
HON. LETURA SAMPSON
SUNDAY BARIBIE DENEBARI
NTAR BIG JOP E.
IKECHUKWU ADIMONYE
