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The Pro-Democracy Coalition of Nigeria (P-DCN) has warned Chidi Lloyd, the chairman of Emohua and other Local Government heads in Rivers State to vacate office when their tenure expires.
Recall that a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had last month nullified tenure extension for the chairmen of the 23 local government areas in the state.
This was as the court declared the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by six months after the expiration of their tenure as invalid.
But Lloyd claimed that his tenure had been extended by six months by the same state assembly.
However, in a statement signed by its President, Comr. Jack Thomas, the group said it is "embarrassing and regrettable that such a brazen display of arrogance in ignorance can emanate from a local government chairman."
Thomas added: "The local government chairman my be suffering from memory loss, or how will claim his tenure was extended by six months despite the Order of the Rivers State High Court nullifying the purported extension of tenure of local government chairmen by people who are not members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, owing to their to the loss of their seat as a result of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) to the All Progressives Congress(APC).
"We also wish to remind Mr Chidi that, on May 21,2024, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, nullified tenure extension of the tenure of the 23 local government chairmen in Rivers state.
"The court declared the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by six months after the expiration of their tenure as invalid.
"The court held that the law is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councilors.
"This sound judgment was delivered by Justice, D.G. Kio, in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, which was instituted by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.
"The Court also affirmed that the lawful tenure for LG chairmen and councillors remained three years as stipulated by the 2018 law, saying any attempt to extend the tenure is unlawful, and violates the officials’ oath of office.
"The chairman of Emohua local government should not ridicule himself in his last few days in office but should be offering apologies to his people for his poor performance in office.
"Mr Chidi must not incur the wrath of Rivers people by refusing to leave office when his tenure expires on June 17th, 2024, as there will be no extension to his tenure, not even for a day.
"We also use this opportunity to call on security agencies to deal decisively with the likes of Chidi should they indulge in acts that will affect the peace and security of Rivers State."
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