Rivers State is witnessing renewed political tension as the 22 executive chairmen of Local Government Councils, who were elected in 2014 under the All Progressives Congress during former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s tenure, have vowed to reclaim their positions.
These chairmen, ousted in 2015 after the election of Governor Nyesom Wike, now claim to be the rightful officeholders following a recent Court of Appeal ruling.
The chairmen, who had been involved in a protracted legal battle with the state’s People’s Democratic Party, gathered in Port Harcourt on Tuesday to announce their intentions.
Their statement came after the Court of Appeal’s February 28, 2025, ruling, which nullified the 2015 Federal High Court judgment that had earlier removed them from office.
Benson Imie, the former chairman of Andoni LGA, read a statement on behalf of the chairmen, emphasizing that the Court of Appeal’s decision reinstated them as the legitimate officeholders. “It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, has set aside the July 9, 2015 judgement of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, which nullified the Local Government Council election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on May 23, 2015,” Imie explained.
He continued: “The Appeal Court, in delivering judgement on February 28, 2025, found that the previous judgment violated the appellants’ right to fair hearing and affirmed that the election was legally valid.” The chairmen were clear in their message that the right individuals to hold office in the state’s local councils are those who were elected in 2015.
Imie pointed out that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the same day had created vacancies in the councils, further solidifying their claim. He stated: “In the light of the foregoing, vacancies in various Local Government ensued. The rightful persons to occupy the vacant positions at the Local Government Councils are the duly elected Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Councillors in 2015.”
In a bold declaration, Reginald Ukwoma, the former chairman of Etche LGA, asserted that the 2015 chairmen and councillors did not need to be re-sworn in as they had already taken their oaths of office before being removed. “We don’t need swearing in again. We have been sworn into office, we cannot take another oath of office. At the moment, we will wait to receive the Certified True Copies of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court judgments. Then, we will know when to resume office,” Ukwoma said.
The chairmen’s statements have reignited political fervor in Rivers State, with both their supporters and critics anticipating the next phase of this unfolding legal and political battle.
