Council chairmen elected during the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi have declared themselves the rightful leaders of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State, insisting that they should be reinstated following recent court rulings.
The chairmen, who were removed shortly after Nyesom Wike took office as governor in 2015, said the Supreme Court’s nullification of the October 5, 2024, local government election has created a vacuum, which they are legally entitled to fill.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area and leader of the group, Imie Benson, emphasized that the Court of Appeal had earlier set aside the July 9, 2015, judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which initially invalidated their election.