The timetable and guidelines for a fresh Local Government election in Rivers State will be unveiled today.

Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) Adolphus  Enebeli announced this through a statement made available to reporters in Port Harcourt yesterday.

The announcement of the proposed election came barely five days after last week’s Supreme Court judgment that nullified the October 2024 council poll in the state.

 A hitherto unknown Action People’s Party (APP)  won   22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the state.

  It was, however, learnt that the plan for a new council poll might deepen the bad blood between the state  House of Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara .

Part of the key resolutions of the House on Monday was its  decision “to amend the Local Government and RISIEC laws to be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way for the commencement of plans for fresh local government elections in the state.’’

While the Amaewhule–led House believes that preliminary procedures and requirements for a fresh local government election,  including a valid appropriation law were not ready yet, the state government feels that the process for another poll must begin immediately in line with the Supreme Court verdict.

The  House had also given the governor a 48-hour ultimatum to re-present the state’s 2025 Appropriation Bill. The deadline expires today.

 As of 9 pm yesterday, Fubara had made no comment on that.

 But Enebeli,  in his statement, invited leaders of all registered political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations,  traditional rulers, security agencies, religious organisations, and the media, among others to RISIEC’s secretariat where the date for the election would be made public.

“The highlight of the meeting will be the unveiling of the timetable and guidelines for the 2025 local government elections in the state,” he said.

Just as Enebeli made the announcement,  22 Rivers indigenes elected as council chairmen nine years ago added a new twist to the crisis over the leadership of the local governments.

The 22, who were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during Rotimi Amaechi’s tenure as governor,  said they were the rightful chairmen and should therefore be reinstated.

They said in a statement yesterday that their demand stems from the outcome of last Friday’s Appeal Court judgement in Port Harcourt which upturned the    July 5, 2015 Federal High Court verdict that removed them from office. 

The sacked council chiefs added that the ‘’vacancy’’ created by last week’s  Supreme Court judgment was another good reason for their demand.

‘’The rightful persons to occupy the vacant positions at the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are the council chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors duly elected in 2015, and having been lawfully recognised by the court of Appeal after a protracted legal battle,’’ they said in the statement by the then ALGON Chairman, Imie Benson.

Also yesterday, the   Ijaw National Congress (INC)  and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone,   differed with the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) on the feud between Governor Fubara and the Amaewhule-led House. 

 While the INC and IYC  warned against any attempt to impeach Fubara, RRM advised the House of Assembly   not to  ‘’hesitate to wield the big stick of impeachment if the governor continues on the part of illegality.’’

Chairman of the INC, Benjamin Okaba, warned that any attempt to undermine the office of Governor Fubara would have dire consequences for national peace and economic stability, especially in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta.

Okaba  accused  the  Ikwerre    of seeking  to frustrate the first riverine governor in decades and  said  that the Ijaw  would defend Fubara “with every pint of blood in their veins.”

He also faulted the  Supreme Court judgment, saying it was capable of plunging the entire Niger Delta into crisis.

Calling  on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the crisis, Okaba enjoined Fubara to, as a law-abiding citizen, work with all duly constituted arms of government in the state.

Also, the IYC  warned those hiding under the Supreme Court verdict to destabilise  Rivers State to have a rethink.

The group, in a statement by its  Chairman  Datolu Sukubo, Secretary Tamunokuro Dango and Information Officer, Odia Igbikis,  described the 48-hour ultimatum by the House as a move to impeach  Governor Fubara.

The statement partly reads: “We are deeply concerned over the current tense political situation in Rivers State, following the recent Supreme Court judgment nullifying the election of local government council chairmen.

“This decision has created an environment ripe for manipulation by those who do not have the best interests of Rivers State or the Ijaw nation at heart.

“We are aware of alarming plans by certain elements to destabilise Rivers State and undermine the mandate given to our elected officials.

“The purported 48-hour ultimatum issued to the Governor, Sir Simin alayi Fubara, by the defected Martins Amawhule-led House of Assembly to present the 2025 budget is a clear indication of an orchestrated effort to create chaos and potentially impeach the governor.

“This is not only an attack on our leadership but also an affront to the will of the Rivers people who have entrusted their governance to one of our own.”

 “The IYC firmly warns that we will not stand by and allow detractors to steal this mandate. We are committed to defending our rights and ensuring that the voices of the Ijaw people are heard and respected.

“We call upon President Bola Tinubu  and the National Security Adviser(Nuhu Ribadu) to intervene immediately and halt the ongoing madness that threatens to plunge Rivers State into an avoidable crisis.’’

But the RRM, in a statement by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill and Secretary, Sarima Akpata, urged Amaewhule and his colleagues to defend democracy in Rivers State.

    “The time for us has come to ensure all illegal appointments, spendings and actions by the Rivers State Government are halted until a proper budget is presented,’’ it said.