Despite a recent controversial peace deal facilitated by President Bola Tinubu, the political turmoil in Rivers State persists as the Rivers House of Assembly takes a decisive step, limiting Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s authority in appointing chairpersons for local councils.
On Friday, the assembly voted overwhelmingly against Governor Fubara’s veto and passed a bill into law, removing his power to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas in the state. This legislative move, rejecting the governor’s veto, effectively bars Fubara from exercising the authority previously enjoyed by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
With the bills now enacted into law, the governor will be compelled to conduct elections at the expiration of the current officials’ tenure, as the three-year term of the current council officials elected in 2021 is set to conclude within the first quarter of this year.
During Friday’s plenary, Speaker Martin Amaewhule read four letters from the governor wherein Fubara declined assent to four new bills. Citing Section 100, subsection 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, lawmakers asserted that the governor’s assent was not required for the bills’ passage into law. This section stipulates that if the governor withholds assent and the bill is passed by the House of Assembly by a two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law without the governor’s assent.
Accusing the governor of not intending to conduct local government elections, Speaker Amaewhule highlighted the key aspect of the law, stating, “This law removes the power of the Governor to appoint caretaker committee chairmen for the local governments; the governor is not happy that we’re removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen.”
In addition to the bill limiting the governor’s authority in local council appointments, the lawmakers also passed into law three other bills vetoed by Governor Fubara. These include the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law, the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-Owned Property Prohibition repeal law, and the Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.
This legislative move marks the first time that the assembly has overridden Governor Fubara’s veto, underscoring the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State despite recent peace efforts. The state assembly has been divided into two factions, with 27 members aligning with Nyesom Wike and four supporting Governor Fubara. The recent peace deal allowed the return of the pro-Wike lawmakers, restoring their rights and privileges. However, the latest legislative developments suggest that challenges persist in Rivers State politics.
