Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, declared on Thursday that police personnel will maintain their presence at Rivers State Local Government secretariats until a court ruling resolves the ongoing tenure extension dispute involving local government chairmen in the state.
A clash erupted in Port Harcourt, the state capital, earlier in the week over the tenure of these chairmen, resulting in fatalities including a police officer and a vigilante member.
The 23 local government chairmen, whose three-year terms expired on Monday, chose to remain in office, citing the newly enacted Local Government Amendment Law 2024 passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. This law, supported by legislators aligned with Governor Nyesom Wike, allows for a six-month extension due to the delay in conducting local government elections by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In response, Governor Fubara appointed 23 caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday to oversee the local governments in Port Harcourt, following protests by youths against the incumbent chairmen.
The police, under instructions from the state command, took control of all local government council headquarters to prevent further violence and maintain law and order, thereby denying access to Fubara’s appointed caretaker chairmen.
During a meeting in Abuja with police commanders, the IGP emphasized that the barricades at the local government secretariats would remain in place until the court issues a ruling on the matter, aiming to prevent further loss of life and maintain public order.