BREAKING: Fubara swears in caretaker chairmen for 23 LGs

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara installed new caretaker chairmen for the state's 23 local government units on Wednesday.

Hours after the House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker Victor Jumbo, vetted and confirmed the nominees, the governor installed the new caretaker chairmen.

According to a statement released by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West, Governor Fubara had forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, and the nominees were invited for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday.

The nomination was made in the midst of a resurgent political crisis in the state because outgoing council chairmen have refused to give up their positions when their terms have ended.

The swearing-in ceremony was held in the Government House Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, amid tight security.
According to our correspondent, the eleven caretaker chairmen who made up the first batch took the oath of office before the other batches arrived and did the same.

Below are the names of the interim chairmen that Fubara has nominated:

1. Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson

2. Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth

3. Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green

4. Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs

5. Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan

6. Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree

7. Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua

8. Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon

9. Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa

10. Emouha LGA – David Omereji

11. Etche LGA – John Otamiri

12. Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden

13. Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji

14. Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana

15. Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo

16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe

17. Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi

18. Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan

19. Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald

20. Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam

21. Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip

22. Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo

23. Tai LGA – Matthew Dike

As chairmen who refused to leave their offices were overthrown by protesting youths loyal to Fubara on Tuesday, the state's crisis got worse.

At the Eberi-Omuma secretariat in Omuma Local Government Area, a policeman lost his life in a fight between supporters of Fubara and those of Nyesom Wike, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

It was announced by the police on Tuesday night that they had taken control of the 23 council secretariats in order to stop any more breakdown of civil order.