INEC under scrutiny as chaos threatens to erupt in Rivers.

The political crisis in Rivers State is at risk of escalating into anarchy. Since Governor Siminalayi Fubara took office on May 29, 2023, there have been three different Speakers, indicating a deep-seated issue within the state.

What initially seemed like a disagreement between political godfather Nyesom Wike and his godson Governor Fubara is teetering on the brink of becoming a catastrophic situation that could lead to a declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The recent appointment of a new Speaker, Rt Hon Victor Oko Jumbo, has heightened tensions among political observers. It is believed that one of the new Speaker’s immediate tasks will be to swear in caretaker committee chairmen for the twenty-three local government areas of the state.

The current council chairmen’s tenure is set to expire next month, meaning that new chairmen either need to be elected or appointed as caretakers. Given the prevailing circumstances, it is unlikely that the Governor will risk conducting an election as he lacks a solid political structure to carry out such a crucial exercise at this time.

In the past, the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, passed a law extending the council chairmen’s tenure by six months. This was done concurrently with mounting pressure from the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging the Governor to hold local government elections. The APC disapproved of any attempt by the Governor to appoint caretaker chairmen to the councils.

With Rt Hon Jumbo now occupying the position of Speaker in the divided Assembly, the stage is set for the appointment of caretaker chairmen to replace the outgoing officials. This will provide some relief for Governor Fubara, as he can ensure that only those loyal to him are appointed as caretaker chairmen in the twenty-three local government areas.