By Aaron Ossai and Disun Amosun
A federal lawmaker and spokesman of the opposition lawmakers’ coalition, in the National Assembly, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has commended the Federal High Court, Rivers State Judicial Division over its declaration that there’s no going back on Rivers Local Government election scheduled for October 5.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, he described the judgment delivered by Justice I.P.C Igwe as victory for democracy, blaming the pro-Wike lawmakers for running around to obtain court injunction in order to frustrate the process, while others are already busy campaigning for votes, calling leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wake up and restore the party.
On the suit Between Action Peoples Party, APP and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Rivers State Government, and Governor of Rivers State, Justice Igwe ruled that the Defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.
Justice Igwe ordered as follows, “That upon the construction of Section 7 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 as amended, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.
“That in view of Section 7 subsection 1, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended, Section 5 (A) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. Law No 2 of 2018, the Decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Delivered on the 11th day of July, 2024 in Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of Federation Vs Attorney General of Abia State and 35 Ors and expiration of the tenure of the former Democratically elected Local Government Councils in Rivers State on the 17th day of June, 2024, the Defendants are bound to conduct Election into the Local Government Councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time in order to comply with aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Reacting to the court judgement during a media briefing, Monday in Abuja, Ugochinyere hailed the judgement saying that it is victory for democracy, stating that the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike’s efforts to stop the polls has been put to shame with this court judgement.
“This court judgement has saved democracy not just in Rivers State but the nation as a whole. The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has been put to shame with this court judgement. We thank the Judiciary for saving democracy and upholding the rule of law. The local government election in Rivers State will hold as scheduled. The electoral laws are very simple, there’s no court order that can stop elections”, he added.