The Rivers State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria have kicked against the judgement of the Federal High Court, nullifying the May 23 local government elections held in the state.

Addressing the media in Abuja, the Chairman of the body, Mr Sogbeye Eli argued that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never sought the nullification of the election, which effectively sacked the 23 local government chairmen and their councillors.

Mr Eli said that the association stands by an earlier interim order by the National Industrial Court, restraining the state government from interfering in the activities of the chairmen.

The association has appealed the judgement, while asking for a stay of execution.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had dissolved the 22 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, Nigeria’s south-south region.

The presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court 1, gave the verdict in his ruling on Thursday.

The judge said that the decision of the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi to go ahead with the conduct of the council election on May 23, in spite of a court order asking all parties to maintain status quo, was a flagrant abuse of court process and disregard for rule of law.