Rivers LG Chairman Names 100 New Aides After 130 Appointments

The Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has appointed 100 additional special assistants, just weeks after naming 130 new special advisers to support his administration.

The latest round of appointments, announced via X (formerly Twitter), highlights Ihunwo’s ongoing efforts to bolster his political team as he works to implement his plans for the local community.

“I have appointed an additional one hundred persons as Special Assistants to help me achieve my plans for my people,” Ihunwo stated in his social media post.

Among the new appointees are individuals such as Augustina Elodi, Obi Chima, Abi Chinazor Clara, Ginikachukwu Onyeagusi, Chigozie Emmanuel Esinulo, Sunday Confidence Onyinyechi, and Nworgu Namdi Emmanuel.

This move is part of a broader trend of large-scale political appointments by Ihunwo, who, during his tenure as caretaker committee chairman in July 2024, appointed 100 special assistants. The LGA chairman’s repeated appointments have raised eyebrows, particularly in the context of his close ties with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Ihunwo’s growing number of appointees has sparked debate, with critics questioning the necessity of such a large team in a local government area. However, supporters argue that the appointments are essential for driving the chairman’s development plans and consolidating political support in the region.

The chairman’s actions come amid rising political tensions within the state. Ihunwo is a known ally of Governor Fubara, and the two are seen as part of a faction opposed to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who hails from Obio-Akpor LGA. In October 2024, Ihunwo made headlines when he controversially removed Wike’s name from the administrative block of the council secretariat, further fueling the political rivalry between Fubara and Wike in what is seen as a struggle for political dominance within the state.