Rivers: Warning issued by rights group to ex-council chairmen regarding anarchy

The departing chairmen of several local government councils in Rivers State have received a strong warning from the well-known international human rights organisation Human Rights Advocacy Network (HRAN), advising them to drop any preparations that could cause chaos or a crisis in the state.

The group also demanded that security organisations, such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police, take proactive measures to stop any activities that would jeopardise peace and order.

On June 17, 2024, the local government council chairmen’s term came to an official conclusion.

However, citing a rumoured six-month tenure extension given by the state parliament, Chidi Lloyd, the chairman of the Emohua Local Council, and several other members of the Ikwerre ethnic community, have refused to resign from their positions.

The group HRAN made it clear in a statement signed on Monday by Mr. David Mathew, the organization’s country representative, that the purported extension by the now-dissolved House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, had been declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction.

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“We have learned of the threats and pledges made by the most recent local government chairmen in Rivers State, whose term ends at noon on this day, June 17, 2024, to violate peace and harmony in the state.

The chairmen claim that in the middle of the state’s political unrest, the assembly led by Martins Amaewhule prolonged their terms by six months by amending Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018.

Part of the statement said, “It is necessary to remind the immediate past local government chairmen that, less than a month ago, a Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Daketima Kio nullified the six months tenure elongation of the state’s local government chairmen granted by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.”

Matthew claims that the ruling declared the law to be in conflict with both section 9(1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which establishes a three-year term for council members and chairmen of local governments, and the 1999 constitution.

“The Judge emphasised that the attempt to extend the tenure was illegal and violated the officials’ oath of office,” he continued.

“That ruling from the Rivers State High Court, which invalidated the extension of local government chairmen’ terms in Rivers State, has not yet been overturned.”

HRAN issued a warning, stating that the previous chairmen’s refusal to resign was treasonous and illegal, directly endangering the peace and stability of the state.

Consequently, the organisation demanded that security services keep a careful eye on all 23 local government chairmen in order to spot any possible legal infractions.

Local unrest has already been triggered by the circumstance; young people are demanding the resignation of the council chairmen and have blocked the main entrances to the Degema and Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) secretariats.

Viral films have also shown armed youths—possibly surveillance officers—patrolling the streams of local authorities along rivers.

The Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024 was deemed illegal by a state High Court in Port Harcourt last month, hence invalidating the six-month tenure extension granted to the 23 local council chairmen.

Additionally, an Appeal Court decision from last weekend advised both sides to keep things as they were, which resulted in divergent interpretations from groups supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.