This happened during plenary on Friday at the House of Assembly Quarters after the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, read four letters addressed to him by the governor wherein he declined his assent to the four new bills which had been sent to him for assent.

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The House relying on Section 100, Subsection 5, said the assent of the governor is not required for the passage into law of the said bills.

The section stated that “where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required”.

Speaking further, the Speaker accused the governor of not planning to conduct local government elections in the state, saying “by the reasons given by the Governor it means he doesn’t plan to conduct local government elections in the state”.

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He added that “the key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the Local Governments, the Governor is not happy that we’re removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen”.

The four laws passed are:

1-The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law

2-The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law

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3-The Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State Owned Property Prohibition repeal law.

4- The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.

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