The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike, has insisted that he will remain in office after the expiration of his tenure next month.
Nwanosike, who can be seen in a now-viral video, was addressing his constituents at a function in Ikwerre. He stated that the amendment to the law by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly is the law of Nigeria.
He said, “If Martin Amaewhule says that because the governor of Rivers State failed in his duty to conduct Local Government elections, and that I, Dr Nwanosike Samuel Osoruchi, by the oath of office I took and the certificate of return I was issued when I contested my second tenure election, that we should remain in office, so shall we remain in office!”
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This is coming despite a court judgement which nullified the Local Government Amendment law which the Rivers Assembly had vetoed the Governor to enact, wherein they gave themselves powers to extend the tenures of the local government chairmen if the governor fails to conduct council elections.
The Chairmen of Bonny and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs had however gone to court seeking that the said law be nullified as they had no interest in remaining in office beyond their tenures. In a judgement last Monday, Justice Diaketima Kio held that such an extension was unconstitutional and therefore not binding.
Nwanosike, however, appeared to threaten anyone interested in occupying his office at the expiration of his tenure, saying, “If dem born you well, show your face let me see”.
This latest development fuels fears of a potential breakdown of law and order in the oil-rich state arising from the political face-off between Governor Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
