Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s objection was overturned by the Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, bringing the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into force.

The governor was not allowed to designate caretaker committees for local government units, among other things, as a result of the new law.

It also requires that elections be held by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission prior to the local government chairmen’s terms ending.

Additionally, as per the new rule, the current chairmen’s terms will be extended by a maximum of six months in the event that the LG election is unable to take place for whatever reason.

For the sixth time, the House will oppose the governor’s proposed legislation.

The decision was made at the 159th Legislative Session of the House, which was chaired by Speaker Martin Amaewhule and convened at the Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt.

The Speaker’s media assistant, Martins Wachukwu, revealed the Assembly’s decision in a statement on Monday.

The Local Government (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Assembly on March 13, 2014, and it was sent to the governor for his approval.

Nevertheless, Fubara refused to sign the bill as the legislators threatened to disregard him.

Since late last year, the Assembly and the governor have been at odds with one other following Fubara’s separation with his predecessor and political mentor, Nyesom Wike.

The Speaker and twenty-seven other Assembly members support Wike, and they tried to remove Fubara from office in October of last year.

President Bola Tinubu’s intervention temporarily eased the tension, but recent developments indicate that the gladiators are once again in the trenches.

The Monday statement by the Speaker’s aide read: “Determined to perform its constitutional duties, the bill was presented afresh by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, and debated by members.

“Thereafter, the House, 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; the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, put the question to the House and with two-thirds majority votes, the House agreed to override the governor and passed the bill into law.”

As a further development, the House verified and vetted candidates for the chairmanship and Assembly Service Commission seats.

Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs. Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr. Gbaranen Robinson, and Madam Dorcas Amos as Members were those who were screened and confirmed.

The statement recalled that the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, which the Assembly enacted into law on March 22, 2024, gave the House the authority to assign the Assembly Service Commission’s chairman and members back to itself.

Attempts to reach the state’s Commissioner of Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, were unsuccessful since his line was busy.