As the tenure of the Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State grinds to a halt on Monday, June 17, 2024, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned them to ensure a smooth transition of power at their various local government areas.

Chairman of IPAC in Rivers State, Solsuema Osaro gave this caution on Saturday, June 15, 2024 via a press release he personally signed made available to Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Osaro, who counselled the chairmen to commence preparation of handover notes, said it was imperative because there is no constitutional provision that permits an extension of their tenure,

“…this counsel is imperative consequent upon the fact that there is no constitutional provision upon which their ill-conceived desperate desire for tenure elongation can find expression….”

While describing IPAC as a body committed to the preservation of democratic ideals which will not recline when democracy is ridiculed, Osaro cautioned the outgoing chairmen against using hoodlums to overrun their various council areas.

“We also admonish them against the primitive use of hoodlums to overrun their various council areas as rumoured in some quarters as means of achieving tenure elongation through the back door….”

The IPAC Rivers State Chairman commended the Appeal Court for its ruling which he described as solomonic, urging the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to constitute and inaugurate caretaker committees to administer the LGAs.

“We urge the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir. Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS to immediately constitute and swear in caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government areas as vacuum cannot be accommodated in governance…”

“We urge all stakeholders to cooperate with the Caretaker Committees that would be inaugurated to ensure a seamless transition and maintain the trust of the people in our democratic institutions.”

He communicated IPAC’s resolve to be foremost in defence of Democracy even as he called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to hold the outgoing chairmen accountable for any attack meted out to members of political parties who stand in defence of Democracy.