Political Tensions Escalate in Rivers State as Sacked Council Chairmen Challenge Wike’s Unlawful Dismissal
A fresh political storm is brewing in Rivers State as the 23 Local Government (LG) Chairmen unceremoniously sacked by former Governor Nyesom Wike in 2015 have vowed to reclaim their mandates following a decisive court ruling in their favor.
Benson Imie, the former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, speaking on behalf of the affected Chairmen during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, described Wike’s actions as a blatant disregard for the democratic process and a brazen abuse of power.
The embattled Chairmen were lawfully elected on May 23, 2015, in a democratic exercise conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) during the closing days of then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration. However, upon assuming office, Wike swiftly removed them from their positions and orchestrated a legal challenge that culminated in a controversial Federal High Court ruling on July 9, 2015, nullifying their election.
Imie revealed that the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt had on February 28, 2025, overturned the questionable ruling, affirming that their election was legally valid and setting aside the previous judgment due to a gross violation of their right to fair hearing. The landmark decision in the case CA/PH/172/2024 (Hon. Augustine P. Ngo & 22 Ors v. Peoples Democratic Party & Ors) has reignited the battle for justice, further exposing the undemocratic maneuvers employed by Wike to consolidate power.
“The Appeal Court has made it unequivocally clear that our election was without legal encumbrances,” Imie asserted.
Adding to Wike’s growing political setbacks, last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, which sacked the LG Chairmen installed following the widely condemned October 5, 2024, elections, further strengthens the legitimate claims of the unlawfully removed Chairmen.
Reginald Ukwuoma, the former Chairman of Etche LGA, dismissed any notion of a fresh swearing-in, arguing that they had already taken their oaths of office in 2015 and were simply resuming their legitimate duties.
“We are waiting to receive the Certified True Copies of the Appeal Court and Supreme Court judgments before deciding when to resume office,” Ukwuoma stated firmly.
The latest judicial decisions serve as a damning indictment of Wike’s autocratic tendencies and his penchant for manipulating state institutions for political gain. His unlawful removal of duly elected Chairmen has not only undermined democratic principles but has also cast a long shadow over his tenure.
With the tides of justice turning against him, Wike’s legacy now faces a severe test as the embattled Chairmen prepare to reclaim their stolen mandates. The unfolding political crisis underscores the dangers of executive overreach and the necessity of upholding the rule of law in Nigeria’s democratic process.
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