By Abiola Olawale
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order voiding the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which seeks tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state.
The court in its ruling declared that Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by six months, is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councillors.
The court gave the ruling on a lawsuit marked PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.
In his judgment, Hon. Justice D.G. Kio declared that the lawful tenure for local government chairmen and councillors remained three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law, stressing that any attempt to extend the tenure was not only unlawful but also violated the officials’ oath of office.
The New Diplomat recalls that Rivers State Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 was enacted by the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The present chairmen and Councilors of the Local Government Councils in the Rivers state have been in office since the administration of the former Governor of the state.
However, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State refused to assent to the proposed law. Following his refusal, the lawmakers loyal to Wike decided to override the veto of the State Governor.
