A fresh political controversy has erupted in Rivers State as local government chairmen elected during former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration insist they are the rightful officials to reclaim the 23 council Secretariat.
The affected chairmen were removed from office in 2015 following the assumption of power by then-Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Hon. Imie Benson, former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Rivers State and ex-chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, argued that their removal was unlawful. He cited a recent Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a 2015 Federal High Court judgment that had nullified their elections.
According to him, the Court of Appeal, in its verdict delivered on February 28, 2025, in Appeal No. CA/PH/172/2024 (Hon. Augustine P. Ngo & 22 Ors v. People’s Democratic Party & Ors), set aside the earlier ruling on the grounds of a “violent breach and abuse of the Appellants’ right to fair hearing.”
Benson further criticised the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, for dismissing two motions seeking to join the case as interested parties.
He explained that the motions, filed in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/84/2015 (PDP v. INEC & Ors), aimed to prevent INEC from providing the voters’ register for the controversial May 23, 2015, council elections.
Quoting the appellate court’s ruling, 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.”
Benson argued that the Appeal Court could not order their reinstatement at the time because the council seats were not vacant.
However, he noted that on the same day, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court sacked all local government chairmen elected on October 5, 2024, for violating RSIEC laws.
“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 declared.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling voiding the 2024 council elections, the 2015 chairmen argue that they are the only legitimate officials left to take charge of local governance in Rivers State.
