The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Rivers State has urgently appealed to the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, citing escalating violence and lawlessness.
Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers, Chief Tony Okocha, emphasized this call during a media briefing held in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
According to Okocha, the situation in Rivers State has deteriorated into a state of warfare, with identifiable actors responsible for the deadly unrest that has claimed lives.
He expressed concern over the apparent helplessness of both the state government and law enforcement agencies in curbing the violence, urging swift federal intervention to quell the escalating crisis.
“The Local Government Law No. 2, 2024, has already outlawed the use of caretaker committee chairmen,” Okocha pointed out, highlighting a pending court ruling that could potentially compound governance challenges in the state.
He raised the specter of conflicting chairmen in local governments if the court ruling favors the outgoing chairmen whose tenure recently expired.
The call for federal intervention comes amidst a backdrop of political maneuvering between factions aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The controversy centers on amendments to local government laws and the non-conduct of elections, further complicating the governance landscape in Rivers State.
Governor Fubara, addressing the media in Port Harcourt, reiterated the legal clarity on local government tenure, affirming that there is no provision for tenure extension beyond the stipulated term.
Political analysts have characterized the unfolding events in Rivers as a crucial battleground between the camps of Wike and Fubara, underscoring the high stakes and implications for political stability in the region.