Fubara Responds to Supreme Court Ruling with New Orders for Rivers LG Chairmen

In a dramatic turn of events in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has issued a fresh directive to the chairmen of the state’s 23 local government councils following a pivotal Supreme Court judgment. As reported by Dockaysworld on March 2, 2025, the governor’s announcement came during a statewide broadcast on Sunday evening, March 2, from the Government House in Port Harcourt. This move marks a significant shift in the state’s local government administration, prompted by the apex court’s decision to nullify the local government elections held on October 5, 2024—an outcome tied to the ongoing political rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Fubara’s directive mandates the immediate handover of power from the outgoing local government chairmen to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) across all 23 councils. This transition, effective by Monday, March 3, 2025, is designed to ensure continuity in local governance while the state prepares for fresh elections to be conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The governor framed this action as a direct response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, which outlawed caretaker arrangements in local government systems nationwide, rendering the previous election results invalid. “Given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to take over the administration of the 23 local government councils,” Fubara declared, emphasizing compliance with the court’s orders.

The Supreme Court’s judgment, delivered on Friday, February 28, 2025, dealt a significant blow to Fubara’s administration. Beyond nullifying the October 2024 elections, the court also reinstated the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly—aligned with Wike—and barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the state until it complies with prior court orders. These rulings have intensified the political crisis in Rivers, a state already strained by the feud between Fubara and Wike, which has fueled legislative battles, electoral disputes, and governance challenges since Fubara took office.

In his broadcast, Fubara acknowledged the turbulent climate but urged calm among residents. “Although our dear state seems to be back in trying times, I urge everyone to remain peaceful and go about their legitimate daily activities,” he said, assuring the public that his administration remains committed to upholding its responsibilities. He also revealed that his legal team expects to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgments by Friday, March 7, 2025, after which the government will study and implement the rulings fully. “We are a law-abiding government,” Fubara stressed, signaling acceptance of the court’s authority despite his administration’s disagreement with the verdicts.

This directive effectively ends the tenure of the local government chairmen elected under controversial circumstances in October 2024—an election marred by allegations of irregularities and boycotts by Wike’s faction. The Action Peoples Party (APP), which won 22 of the 23 chairmanship seats, hailed Fubara’s decision as a statesmanlike move, with its National Chairman, Barr. Uche Nnadi, expressing optimism about future electoral success. However, the ruling also reignites tensions with Wike’s camp, which has celebrated the Supreme Court’s decisions as a victory over what they call Fubara’s “reign of impunity.” Wike himself described the judgments as a restoration of legality, while Fubara’s allies see them as setbacks engineered by political adversaries.

The handover to HLGAs—a cadre of civil servants—shifts local governance into a temporary bureaucratic phase, raising questions about efficiency and accountability until new elections are held. Historically, Rivers State has faced similar breakage of local government elections has been a recurring issue, with previous chairmen, loyal to Wike, attempting to extend their terms beyond legal limits in 2024, only to be rebuffed by judicial rulings affirming local government autonomy. Fubara’s latest order aligns with a broader national trend following a July 11, 2024, Supreme Court decision that banned governors from dissolving elected councils—a principle now reinforced in Rivers.

The political stakes are high. The Amaewhule-led assembly, reinstated by the court, has called on Fubara to respect the rulings, framing them as a vindication of their stance against his administration. Meanwhile, groups like the Rivers Good Governance Agenda have praised the judiciary’s independence, warning Fubara against further destabilizing actions. For ordinary citizens, the immediate concern is stability, as the state navigates this interim period without elected local leadership.

Fubara’s next steps—reviewing the CTC and organizing fresh polls—will test his administration’s resilience amid financial and legislative constraints imposed by the Supreme Court. As Rivers State braces for what lies ahead, this directive underscores both his commitment to the rule of law and the fragile balance of power in one of Nigeria’s most contentious political arenas.