Local government chairmen in Rivers State will soon vacate their offices as their tenure wind down and plot to extend turns futile.
On Tuesday, the State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice D.G. Kio Ph.D, dashed the hopes of the chairmen loyal to the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, when it declared that the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the Chairmen’s terms by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.
Also, the court affirmed that the lawful tenure for Local Government Chairmen and Councillors remains three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law, insisting that the attempt to extend their tenure was invalid and unconstitutional.
Again, the court held that such extension was contrary to their oath of office. According to the court, “The court, in suit No. PHC/1320/CS/2024, between Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors. vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors., held that the law is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.
“The applicable law in the circumstances is the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, that fixes three years tenure for local government chairmen and Councillors and not the local government law No 2 of 2024 which was enacted to unlawfully extend their tenure.”
