- Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere announced the Supreme Court judgment on LG autonomy won’t affect Rivers LG Chairmen’s tenure expiration on Monday
- He emphasized no court can extend their terms and urged outgoing chairmen to prepare handover notes before their term ends
Federal lawmaker and constitutional lawyer Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has announced that the upcoming Supreme Court judgment on Local Government autonomy will not impact the tenure expiration of Rivers LG Chairmen on Monday.
On Friday, Ugochinyere stated that the tenure of Rivers State LG chairmen ends soon and that no court can extend their terms, as it is against the law.
He praised Governor Similanayi Fubara for demonstrating “uncommon democratic character” by allowing the chairmen to complete their three-year terms without disruption despite various attacks.
Ugochinyere urged the outgoing chairmen to prepare their handover notes before their tenure expires. He added that anyone claiming to be an LG chairman after Monday should be arrested.
“The tenure of the current local government in Rivers State is ending soon, and Governor Fubara has ensured the local government system operates democratically,” Ugochinyere said. “He did not dissolve them, even during conflicts with his predecessor. He allowed them to remain in office until their term expires on the 17th.”
He emphasized that the Supreme Court ruling will not affect their tenure. “If anyone thinks that the Supreme Court’s decision allows them to extend their term, they are mistaken. Democracy requires that elected officials serve for a set period, after which new elections are held.”
Ugochinyere clarified that the Supreme Court’s judgment pertains to the autonomy of local governments, not the extension of outgoing chairmen’s terms. “There will be no tenure extension in Rivers State. The issue before the Apex Court is about local government autonomy, not prolonging the tenure of outgoing chairmen,” he concluded.
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