The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called for a declaration of state of emergency in the state, in reaction to the swearing in of 23 caretaker local government chairmen on Wednesday.
Top Society understands that the state has been embroiled in a political crisis over the disagreement between sitting Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike over the post Wike administration sharing formula.
The row led to the defections of lawmakers on the platform of the governor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although Wike has said he remains a PDP member, he’s a minister in the APC government and majority of his loyalists have defected to the APC.
Following the swearing in of the 23 caretaker, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers, Tony Okocha had called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the state during a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
“Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.
“The Governor is helpless, the police are helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that is going on in the state.
“I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday sworn in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The swearing-in was done at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital amid tight security.
Reports have it that the first batch of 11 CTC chairmen are taking their oath of office.
It comes a day after he forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo.
It was reported that the lawmakers had invited the nominees for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday.
The names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara below:
Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
Emouha LGA – David Omereji
Etche LGA – John Otamiri
Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe
Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi
Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan
Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald
Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip
Tai LGA – Matthew Dike
