Council chairmen elected during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi have stated that they are the most qualified to take over the council secretariats across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
These chairmen were removed from office shortly after Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assumed the governorship in 2015.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, they emphasized that despite being legitimately elected, their removal by Wike when he took office in May 2015 was unlawful.
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Representing the group, the 2015 Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state and former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Imie Benson, recalled that the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had overturned the July 9, 2015 ruling of the Federal High Court, which had invalidated the local government election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on May 23, 2015.
Hon. Imie explained that the Court of Appeal, in its judgment on Friday, February 28, 2025, ruled in favor of the 22 chairmen who had challenged the nullification of the 2015 council elections. The court nullified the Federal High Court’s ruling, citing violations of the appellants’ right to a fair hearing and the improper conduct of the trial.
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He noted that the Court of Appeal criticized the trial court, led by Justice Lambo Akanbi, for failing to address two motions filed by the appellants to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC for the May 23, 2015 election.
He said, “In the ruling, the Court of Appeal noted that the 1st Respondent (PDP) and other Respondents were duly served but did not file any Reply brief in opposition to the Appellants brief in the appeal, leaving the appeal of the Appellants unchallenged
“It must be recalled that, at the time of the judgement referred to above, there was no vacancy at the Local Government Council and that constrained the Appeal Court from making consequential orders in relation thereto.
On the other hand, and on the same date of Friday 28 February, the Supreme court in one of the matters decided upon on the said date sacked all the council chairmen clected on 5 of October, 2024 for contravening the extant provisions of RSIEC Laws, among others
“Based on the above, the rightful persons to occupy the vacant positions at the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are the duly 2015 elected Council Chairmen Vice Chairmen and Councilors, having been lawfully recognized by the Court of Appeal after a protracted legal battle.”
He stated that, according to the Supreme Court ruling which annulled the October 5, 2024, local government election in the state, they were the legitimate individuals entitled to take over the respective local government areas.
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