The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has struck out a suit filed by Chidi Lloyd and 20 other former Rivers council chairmen which sought to extend their tenure after it elapsed on June 16th 2024
The former Chairmen had gone to court seeking to extend their constitutional 3 year tenure after it expired based on an amendment to the local government law by the Martin Amaewhule led Rivers State House of Assembly which purportedly elongated their tenures for another 6 months.
Ruling on the matter with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the case citing a lack of locus standi. The judge in his decision held that the former chairmen had no legal right to remain in office declaring their continued stay in office illegal.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the 21 former chairmen ceased to be chairmen at the expiration of their tenures and have no rights to protest.
Recall that in spite of a controversial judgement trying to stop it, the Rivers state government conducted council elections on the 5th of October 2024 and swore in the newly elected chairmen on 6th October. The aforementioned judgement has since been quashed by the court of appeal which held that the high court lacked the jurisdiction to give such a judgement.
