By Peter Akoteyon
A member of the Federal House of Representative who is also the spokesperson of the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, Ilenga Imo Ugochinyere, has raised an alarm over fresh move by a political group loyal to the immediate past governor of Rivers State and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Nyesom Wike of plotting to frustrate Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s plan to conduct local government council elections in Rivers State.
The Opposition Coalition of Lawmakers alleged that the pro-Wike group have perfected plans to use Federal High Court Abuja to secure an order stopping the Rivers State local government election slated for October 5th, 2024.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja at the weekend, the lawmaker said, “nothing will stop the October 5th Rivers State local government election that is constitutional from holding.”
This development which is coming a few days to the scheduled local government elections in Rivers Statebis said to have further heightened existing political tension and anxieties in the oil rich Rivers State. The New Diplomat gathered that while those loyal to Wike believe they would have their way, loyalists of the Statw governor are optimistic that the council polls would proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile,the federal lawmaker while reigning in on the situation, urged the CJN to advise the Abuja Federal High Court to desist from being used to undermine Supreme Court judgements and electoral laws that demand conduct of local government election without obstruction.
He said: “I want to advise the pro-Wike group to stop all these desperation all aimed at stopping the local government election which cannot be possible.”
He added: “ I have just been informed this evening around 5:30pm when the Court has already closed that one of Wike’s loyalists was running around the court trying to get a suit to file an experte order, and even when they couldn’t get it they were heard shouting in court that they need to get the experte order because the judge that will grant the experte order is already waiting.”
He continued: “These are things that put a spanner in the wheels of democracy, when people who are supposed to be upholding the laws of the land are the ones breaking them.
“I want to make it abundantly clear that the local government election in Rivers State will hold because the law is very clear about it, that no court order can stop elections. Why do we have to drag this down to the federal high court because of Wike group? Do you want to destroy it? There are over 36 suits there, because of one man.
“This thing is becoming embarrassing. The court has closed and someone is saying give me a suit number so that you will restrain the local government election that the Supreme Court has already said must be held. After the elections you can go to court to challenge them.”
It would be recalled that the political crisis in Rivers State has continued to persists following unending disagreements between Governor Fubara and his estranged godfather, Wike, over what many believe Centres around the battle for control of the soul of the state politics.
