Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has directed the administrative heads of local governments to take charge of the councils and to await further directives following the expiration of the tenure of the elected council chairpersons and councillors on Monday.
“Heads of local governments administration are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the councils and await further directives,” the governor said in a broadcast on Tuesday morning.
Fubara congratulated the outgoing chairpersons on completing their tenure and wished them well in their future endeavours.
There have been controversies in state as youths in some local government areas, including Degema and Asari-Toru, took over the council headquarters, insisting that the council chairpersons vacate office as their tenure expired on Monday.
The three-year tenure of elected local government officials in the state ended on Monday. They were sworn into office three years ago under the administration of the immediate past Governor Nyesom Wike, now the minister of FCT.
At a recent function in the state, Governor Fubara reminded the council chairpersons that their days in office are numbered.
Tuesday’s directive by the state governor is expected to cause more confusion in a state that is on the brink of violence.