The Special Adviser on Public Communication to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has mocked Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, following the recent Supreme Court ruling. Olayinka humorously suggested that Fubara is “already seeing spirits” in light of the judgment.
He recalled that Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, had previously warned Fubara against opposing Wike. During Fubara’s inauguration after his election in 2023, Fayose advised him to remain within his limits and not to act beyond what was expected of him. Olayinka posted on his Facebook page: “He is seeing spirits already. Fayose warned him.”
The Supreme Court had recently ruled to block federal allocations to the Rivers State government, citing Fubara’s involvement in illegal and unconstitutional activities. The court directed that payments to Rivers State would only resume once Fubara’s government enacts a lawful Appropriation Law, as required by the House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule. The judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim on Friday, also ordered the immediate resumption of duties by the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Additionally, the Supreme Court sacked the 23 local government chairmen in Rivers State, declaring their elections, held on October 5, 2024, as void due to violations of Section 150 of the Electoral Act. The court’s decision further highlighted the ongoing political tension between Fubara and Wike, which has led to significant defections, including 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Fubara issued a directive for the Heads of Local Government Administration to take immediate control of the 23 local government councils, pending fresh elections. The governor instructed the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over their duties to the HLGAs by Monday, March 3, 2025. He made the announcement during a statewide broadcast from the Government House in Port Harcourt, explaining that the move was in line with the abolition of caretaker arrangements in Nigeria’s local government system.
