Rivers: Sacked LG chairmen vow to take over councils

Ex-Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State, who were sacked in 2015 under the administration of former governor Nyesom Wike, have vowed to take over LG councils in the 23 local government areas.
Former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Benson Imie, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Imie said they were elected in an election conducted by Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on May 23, 2015 towards the end of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration.
According to him, Wike sacked them on assumption of office, adding that a Federal High Court in its judgement on July 9, 2015 nullified the matter while voiding the 2015 LG elections.
He noted that after 10 years, an Appeal Court in Port harcourt, on February 28, 2025 upturned the decision of the Federal High Court, ruling that the 2015 election was without encumbrances.
Imie explained that the judgement was set aside on grounds of violent breach and flagrant abuse of the appellants’ right to fair hearing.