A fresh crisis is unfolding in Rivers State, Nigeria, as council chairmen sacked by former Governor Nyesom Wike in 2015 are vowing to reclaim their offices.
The chairmen, who were elected in 2015, claim that a recent court ruling has validated their elections and cleared the way for their return to office.
The crisis began when Wike, who took office in 2015, sacked the chairmen and replaced them with his own appointees.
The chairmen challenged their removal in court, but their case was initially dismissed. However, an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt has now overturned that decision, ruling that the 2015 elections were valid.
The affected chairmen, numbering 23, have declared their intention to reclaim their positions. They argue that they do not require a fresh swearing-in ceremony, as they had already taken their oaths in 2015.
The situation is likely to escalate into a full-blown crisis, with the chairmen insisting on their right to return to office.
It’s worth noting that this development comes amid an ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara having recently sworn in new caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government areas.
The situation is complex and fluid, with multiple factions and interests at play.
