Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the state executive council and relieved all special advisers of their appointments.
The governor also appointed a new chief press secretary, Mr. Onwuka Nzeshi, while his former chief press coordinator, Nelson Chukwudi, was dismissed. No official reason was given for Chukwudi’s removal.
The dissolution was announced in a government special announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and circulated to journalists by the new chief press secretary.
Governor Fubara directed all commissioners and special advisers to immediately hand over to the permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their respective ministries.
The statement read: “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
“His Excellency has therefore directed all commissioners and special advisers to hand over to the permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their ministries with immediate effect.
“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the executive council, wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”
Sources indicated that the development may be linked to a recent peace deal brokered by Bola Tinubu between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja.
This reportedly marks the third time President Tinubu has intervened in the political rift involving Governor Fubara, his estranged political mentor Wike, and members of the state House of Assembly.
Following the dissolution, the governor is expected to forward a new list of commissioner nominees to the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
It is understood that, as part of the reported agreement with Wike, the new cabinet may include some loyalists of the former administration, while certain former commissioners could be reappointed.
