On Tuesday, May 21, the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt division, declared the six-month tenure elongation of the stateâs local government executive chairmen by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly as null and void, unconstitutional and of no effect.
As reported by The Nation, the court further declared the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, whose provisions extended the tenure of local government chairmen as invalid.
The court held that the law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018 which fixed three-year tenure for local government chairmen and councilors.
The court delivered its judgement in a case filed by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.
The presiding judge, Justice, D.G. Kio, in his judgement, declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the chairmenâs terms by six months was in conflict with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.
Meanwhile, the Martins Amaewhule-led house of assembly consists of lawmakers who are loyal to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The aggrieved lawmakers are at loggerheads with Fubara and have pledged their loyalty to Wike, amid his rift with Rivers state governor.
The LGA chairmen are loyalists of Martins Amaewhule and they follow his directives that are against Fubara’s government.
Earlier, TimesNow.com.ng reported that the faction of the Rivers state House of Assembly loyal to Governor Similanayi Fubara had invited some nominees for screening.
The nominees were invited to appear before the assembly led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo. TimesNow.com.ng reported that five commissioners loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, resigned from Fubara’s cabinet on Wednesday, May 15, citing various reasons.
However, on Tuesday, a letter was reportedly sent out, and eight nominees were invited for screening as commissioners.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
