Rivers LGA Chairman Appoints 100 More Aides Weeks After Naming 130 SAs

A Rivers State local government chairman has sparked reactions after appointing an additional 100 aides, just weeks after naming 130 special assistants (SAs).

Chijioke Ihunwo, the Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, has appointed 100 more special assistants. This comes only weeks after he added 130 new appointees to his team.

Ihunwo announced on X (formerly Twitter) on January 18 that he has appointed an additional one hundred individuals as Special Assistants to help him implement his plans for his community.

The most recent appointees include individuals like Augustina Elodi, Obi Chima, Abi Chinazor Clara, Ginikachukwu Onyeagusi, Chigozie Emmanuel Esinulo, Sunday Confidence Onyinyechi, and Nworgu Namdi Emmanuel.

Earlier this month, Ihunwo appointed 130 individuals as special advisers and urged them to “serve diligently in the interest of Obio/Akpor local government.”

This approach to making appointments is familiar for the LGA chairman. Back in July 2024, while serving as caretaker committee chairman, he appointed 100 special assistants.

Ihunwo is recognized as an ally of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. At times, his actions have sparked controversy, such as when he removed Nyesom Wike’s name from the administrative block of the council secretariat in October.

Wike, hailing from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor LGA and serving as the former governor of Rivers State and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), finds himself entangled in a political rivalry with Fubara. This has led to an intense power struggle within the state.