Rivers assembly overrides Fubara, passes local government billÂ

The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday, overrode Governor Siminalayi Fubara by passing into law the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill he had refused to assent.

Hon. Major Jack, Majority Leader, presented the bill during plenary, which following members’ debate was made a law.

The house said it acted “in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, which empowers the House to override the governor, where he withholds his assent.Â

According to the Constitution, the house can carry out the action with two-thirds majority votes of members voting at a plenary to override a governor.

The new law strips the governor of power to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas.

In addition, the law mandates the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections before the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen.

But where an election cannot hold, the new law extends the tenure of sitting local government chairmen by six months.

Governor Fubara and the majority members of the House of Assembly, who are loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, have been at loggerheads.

A former protege and installed successor, Governor Fubara has shown himself to be his own man after getting into the position.

The development has pitted the governor against his benefactor and former political godfather, Wike.Â

 

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