Rivers Assembly Declares Local Govt Poll, Conducted By Former Governor Amaechi, Illegal

The Rivers state House of Assembly has paved the way for the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, to dissolve the local government councils reconstituted by the former Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, six days to the end of his tenure.

The assembly, in its sitting on Monday, declared the May 23 council elections in the state illegal and passed a resolution directing the state governor to dissolve the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The assembly also directed the governor to sack the state Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC) for its role in the protracted crisis in the state judiciary.

The resolutions came after principal officers of the RSIEC and RSJSC appeared before the
lawmakers following their summons.

Twenty-nine out of the 32 members of the 8th Assembly took the resolution after grilling the officers for hours, about their activities in the commissions.

Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi Ibani, who stated that the assembly would remain “thorough, fair and clear in its proceedings”, divided the House after the submissions of the Leader, Martins Amaewhule, and his deputy, Lolo Denabari, that the officers violated their oaths of office.

Ibani cautioned: “There are certain things you don’t have to let to occur while you hold a position of trust. It is my belief that any decision we take on the floor of this chamber is true and in the best interest of the state. It is not witch-hunting. The documents we have showed a different thing. We must deepen democratic values as lawmakers.

“Going by the resolution of this House, we do resolve that the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, is hereby given the power to remove the members of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC) from office.”

APC Celebrates Rivers Local Govt Poll Success

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Rivers State has thanked the electorate for voting for the party in the just-ended local government elections.

Officials described the action as an endorsement of the eight years administration of out-going Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

APC won 22 out of the 23 chairmanship seats that were contested in Saturday’s council polls.

Following the result, the party described the decision of the Amaechi administration to organise the council polls as not only timely but also an affirmation of his status as a true democrat.

“Not minding the opposition of by the PDP leadership in Rivers State, Gov. Amaechi has once again, true to his political sagacity, proved that he is in charge of the politics of Rivers State. The successful conduct of the polls and the eager acceptance of the 22 candidates fielded by APC by the people of Rivers State has once more demonstrated that Rivers State is an APC State,” the State Chairman, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.

He congratulated the Rivers State electorate for having faith in the party by electing all the APC candidates. “We wish to reassure the good people of Rivers State that with the calibre of candidates so elected, the APC revolution at the various local government areas is about to take off. With this election, the State has finally buried the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a political party and by the time we have a re-run governorship election the PDP will be formally nailed,” Ikanya said.

Meanwhile, the party hailed police for maintaining order during the polls.

The election came in the back of violence that characterized the presidential and governorship poll.

“Nigeria Police will perform wonders if allowed to act professionally by the powers that be. We commend the police and wish that they continue to act in this manner for the greatness of our nation,” said Ikanya.

Credit: CAJ News