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| Mr.Sogbeye Eli At the Studio |
A New twist has been added to the controversy rocking the rulings by Justice J.T Fishim of the National Industrial Courting in Yenagoa and that of the Federal High Court in Portharcourt as the elected APC Chairmen has threatened to invade the councils at the appropriate time “unannounced”
This is coming after after 6days news filtered that a National Industrial Court sitting in Bayelsa had reinstated it earlier order given on the 22nd of June 2015 restraining the Rivers State Government,the State House Of Assembly from tampering with the tenure of the 22 elected Chairmen in Rivers State.
Puo Reports recalled that A Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, had adjourned till further notice a matter brought before it by the PDP seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing Voters Register to the RSIEC and the Rivers State Government for the conduct of the council elections in the state last MAY 2015. RISIEC had fixed May 23, 2015 for the state council elections, a development that did not go down well with the state PDP, which went to court to stop the conduct of the polls.
Speaking on a Radio programme (ViewpointPh) on the Controversy generated over the multiple legal troubles on the local Government elections in Rivers state. Hon .Sogbeye C. Eli
Executive Chairman Degema Local Government council and Legal Adviser Rivers ALGON,stated that Justice Lambo Akanbi did not give any order stopping the Rivers State Government led by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from conducting the May 23 Local Government Election in Rivers State.
Mr.Eli noted,that for the fact that both the National Industrial Court and that of the Federal High Court has the same cordinate jurisdiction,and since the National Industrial Court gave its order first,then it will amount to injustice for the 22 APC Chairmen to keep quiet in the face of injustice
“It is totally partisan to allow the CTC to remain in office,there is an order from Justice J.T Fishim of National Indus trail Court which has not been vacated,so its totally wrong to ask us to be calm,We have choosing to stay clear of the Council,but i can assure you that the APC Chairmen will resume work at the councils at the appropraite Time” He noted.
Also Speaking Forgiven Amachree A Port Harcourt Based Legal Practitioner and Political Analyst,stated that Justice Lambo Akanbi did not give any order restraining the former Governor from conducting the Council polls,and so therefor it was wrong for Justice Lambo Akanbi to interfere by delivering Judgement on the case.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, had on Friday July 9 nullified the May 23 local government elections held in the state, effectively sacking those elected at the elections.
Delivering judgment in a case brought by the Peoples Democratic Party, which boycotted the poll, Justice Lambo Akanbi set aside the election conducted by the Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu-led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
The Court said the conduct of the election was illegal since it held in disobedience of an injunction.
The PDP had boycotted the election citing court injunction, which ordered that status quo be maintained.
The All Progressives Congress, won 22 of the 23 chairmanship seats in the elections. The party also won 297 councillorship seats in the 302 wards while other political parties won the rest.
Justice Akanbi said conducting the elections despite a court order was a demonstration of executive lawlessness and impunity.The PDP had in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/84/2015, prayed the court to declare the conduct of the elections illegal and of no effect.
The respondents in the suit were: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and four others.
The Council battle is believed to be a battle of supremacy between the former Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the Rivers State Governor Barr.Nyesom Wike over who controls the affairs of Rivers State.
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