The battle for control of Rivers State’s 23 local government areas has taken a dramatic turn, as council chairmen elected during former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration insist they are the rightful leaders—nearly a decade after being removed from office. Their demand follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections, creating a power vacuum.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Imie Benson, former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area and leader of the group, declared that they have the legal backing to reclaim their positions. He pointed to a Court of Appeal decision that overturned a 2015 Federal High Court judgment, which had initially sacked them.
“We Were Illegally Removed”
According to Benson, the Court of Appeal’s ruling—delivered on February 28, 2025, in Appeal Number CA/PH/172/2024—found that their removal violated due process and fair hearing. He criticized the 2015 Federal High Court ruling by Justice Lambo Akanbi, stating it dismissed their motions for joinder without consideration.
“The court found that our right to fair hearing was trampled upon. Even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other respondents didn’t oppose our appeal, meaning their case against us had no legal standing,” Benson stated.
Supreme Court’s Ruling Changes the Game
Benson argued that the Supreme Court’s decision to sack the chairmen elected in 2024 has changed the political landscape. “At the time of the Appeal Court’s judgment, there were no vacancies in the local government councils. But now, with the Supreme Court’s ruling, we—the duly elected chairmen of 2015—are the only rightful officeholders,” he said.
He insisted that their years of legal battles have finally paid off, and they should be reinstated without further delay.
A Political Powder Keg
The demand for reinstatement adds fuel to the already tense political climate in Rivers State, where multiple factions are battling for local government control. The big question now is: will the state government recognize the 2015 chairmen, or will another round of political and legal confrontations unfold?
