Gov Fubara: “I Disagree With Supreme Court, We Are Back In Trying Times”

By Ayodele Oni

Says a fresh Local Council Election will be held, but directs Heads of Local Government Administration to take over  until then

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has faulted the judgment of the Supreme Court which rubbished all actions he had taken so far, almost. But even with his disagreement  he has assured that the judgment will be implemented by him.

The Supreme Court had, on Friday, February 28, 2027, given the Governor a bloody nose when it nullified the Local Government Area Election held on October 5, 2024, where all, but one, of Fubara’s candidates won; endorsed the State Legislators loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who he had not been dealing with because they publicly decamped from the PDP to  the APC; flowing from that, asked Fubara to represent the 2025 Budget which he had earlier presented to the four legislators loyal to his Government; stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation, and all such other financial institutions from remitting the State’s Federation Allocations to it until the Governor represents the budget to the  whole Assembly, with  Martins Amaewhule as Speaker.

But fluid as the situation is for him, he has asked the people of the State to remain calm.

In his first direct response to the SC ruling via a statewide broadcast on Sunday, March 2, 2025, Governor Fubara directed Heads of Administration in all the LGAs to take over the running of the Councils until a fresh election is conducted. He asked the now-sacked Chairmen (and Councilors) to hand over on Monday, March 3, 2025, to the Heads of Administration in their various Councils.

Following is the full text of the Governor’s Statewide Broadcast.

“My dear people of Rivers State, we are all aware of the recent Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements regarding aspects of the lingering political disputes in our dear State.

“2. Although we disagree with the judgments, we are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government.

“3. Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process and the rule of law.

“4. While we are not above mistakes because we are humans, we believe that we have not, as a government, done anything deliberately to trample on the rule of law or the hallowed principles of constitutional governance.

“5. Accordingly, I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers, and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgements may be available to them by Friday, 7th March, 2025.

“6. I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgements, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the State forward.

“7. Furthermore, given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

“8. I further direct the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, 3rd March, 2025.

“9. Although our dear State seems to be back in trying times, I urge everyone to remain calm and peacefully go about with their legitimate daily activities as we continue to do everything in our power to advance our responsibilities to the citizens.

“10. Thank you and may God bless Rivers State.”