A RIVERS State High Court in Port Harcourt has nullified the amended Local Government Law passed by the Martins Amaewhule faction of the state House of Assembly.
Ruling on the suit, No. PHC/1320/CS/2024, challenging the extension of the tenure of local government chairmen by six months at the expiration of their term, Justice D.G. Kio declared the amendment invalid, citing its inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government law No. 5 of 2018.
The court stressed that the applicable law governing the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors remained the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, which stipulates a three-year tenure, and the attempt to extend their tenure through the enactment of the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 was unlawful and contrary to their oath of office.
Recall that Mr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and six others had challenged the extension, asserting the primacy of constitutional principles in governance.
