Rivers: Wike’s Foot Soldiers In Limbo As Court Stops Extension Of Tenure For LG Chairmen

The Rivers State High Court has struck down the amended Local Government (LG) Law proposed by the Martins Amaewhule faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and with it putting allies of Nyesom Wike in limbo over the control of the local governments, in the state.

GWG.ng reports that the decision was handed down in the suit numbered PHC/1320/CS/2024, which contested the six-month extension of tenure for local government chairmen following the expiration of their terms.

The extension of the tenure of the LG chairmen was to strengthen the control of Wike over the local governments in Rivers State through the chairmen who are all mostly his proxies. One of the local government chairmen, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike aka Ishi, infamously called Fubara, the sitting governor, a “Mumu Governor” and a ‘fool’

Justice D.G. Kio, who presided over the case, declared the amendment invalid due to its inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.

The court highlighted that the governing law for the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors is the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, which specifies a three-year term.

The attempt to extend their tenure through the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 was ruled unlawful and in violation of their oath of office.

This ruling represents a significant victory for Enyiada Cookey-Gam and six others who opposed the extension, reinforcing the supremacy of constitutional principles in governance.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG