Rivers LG Crisis: Wike’s Aide Challenges Fubara’s Authority Over Supreme Court Ruling

Wike’s Aide: Fubara Has No Power to Decide Rivers Local Government Leadership

Lere Olayinka, the Special Adviser on Public Communication to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has asserted that Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State lacks the authority to determine who runs the state’s local governments.

Olayinka cited the Nigerian Constitution and the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, emphasizing that only democratically elected chairmen and councillors have the legal right to oversee local government affairs.

His remarks followed Fubara’s directive for the 23 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen in Rivers State to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration immediately.

This move was Fubara’s response to a Supreme Court judgment that nullified the election of the LGA chairmen and 319 councillors conducted on October 5, 2024.

In a state-wide broadcast, Fubara assured residents that his administration would fully comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

However, Olayinka countered that the Rivers State House of Assembly, not the governor, has the power to extend the tenure of democratically elected local government officials.

“Governors can no longer dictate who runs local governments. The Nigerian Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling on LG autonomy are clear—only elected chairmen and councillors can manage local councils,” Olayinka said.

As the political crisis unfolds, all eyes remain on the implementation of the court ruling and the reaction from key stakeholders in Rivers State.