By Milcah Tanimu

In a significant legislative move, the Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law, effectively overriding Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s assent. This new law marks a pivotal shift, particularly concerning the governor’s authority to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas.

Under this legislation, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is now mandated to conduct elections before the expiration of local government chairmen’s tenure. Additionally, if elections cannot be held, the tenure of current chairmen may be extended by up to six months.

This marks the sixth time the Assembly has overridden the governor’s authority, reflecting ongoing power dynamics and political tensions within the state. Led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the Assembly’s determination underscores its commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duties.

In a separate development, the Assembly also confirmed nominees for key positions within the Assembly Service Commission, further solidifying its influence in administrative appointments.

Efforts to obtain a response from the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The implications of this legislative move on governance in Rivers State remain to be seen as the political landscape continues to evolve.