COURT BLOCKS EXTENSION OF TENURE FOR RIVERS LG CHAIRMEN
COURT BLOCKS EXTENSION OF TENURE FOR RIVERS LG CHAIRMEN
On Tuesday, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt nullified the strength of the new law that sought to extend the tenure of the chairmen of the 23 local government areas in the state.
Thie court declared as invalid the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024 that was the basis upon which the chairmen were seeking an extension of their by six months after the expiration of the tenure they were duly elected to serve.
In the judgement delivered by Justice, D.G. Kio, the court said the recent extension of local government chairmen’s tenure was invalid in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.
The court also held that the law is therefore, inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councilors.
Justice, D.G. Kio, pointed to the fact that the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the LG chairmen’s tenure by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.
The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for LG chairmen and councillors remained three years as stipulated by the 2018 law.
It also warned that any attempt to extend the tenure is unlawful, and violates the officials’ oath of office.

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