A group of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, known as the G60, has raised the alarm over an alleged move by former Rivers State local government chairmen loyal to Nyesom Wike to freeze LGA allocations through an ex parte court order.
In a statement signed by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmakers claimed to have received credible intelligence indicating that some former local government chairmen, whose tenure has expired in Rivers State, along with their financiers, are seeking a federal high court injunction to seize local government allocations. This move is reportedly an attempt to retain power despite their tenures having ended.
READ MORE: Ex-LG chairmen power grab attempt behind crisis In Rivers
The G60 called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and judges of state high courts to remain vigilant and ensure their divisions are not misused to issue ex parte applications to individuals who are no longer in office.
“We received credible intelligence that some of the former local government chairmen, whose tenures have expired in Rivers State, along with their financiers, are looking for a federal high court injunction to seize local government allocations. They are attempting to cling to power even after their terms have ended,” stated Ugochinyere.
He continued, “I want to use this opportunity to call on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and judges of state high courts to be very careful and put their divisions on alert. They must not allow themselves to be used to issue ex parte applications to people who are no longer elected local government chairmen.”
READ MORE: G60 lawmakers call for arrest of ex-Rivers council chairmen continuing beyond tenure
The lawmakers emphasised that there is no provision for tenure extension in a democratic setting, likening such attempts to a coup against constitutional governance. They warned the general public about the move to secure ex parte applications by these former chairmen, stressing that it could lead to the seizure of local government allocations, thereby hindering the development and welfare of workers in rural areas.
“There’s nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting; it’s akin to a coup taking over constitutional governance. We want to alert the general public that there’s a move by these former local government chairmen, whose tenures have expired, to obtain ex parte applications to seize local government allocations, which would adversely affect workers and development in rural areas,” they concluded.
