Tension persists in Rivers State Ahead of Appeal Court judgement
There is unending tension in Rivers State as feuding parties await the decision of the Court of Appeal.
At the last hearing, parties presented their final address to the court, after which the suit was adjourned for judgement.
The former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and twenty-four others are before the court against the high court-backed Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.
Amaewhule and the others are requesting the court to halt the implementation of a high court ruling that removed them from office, pause any further actions in the case, and nullify any decisions made by Jumbo while in office.
They also sought a speedy resolution of the matter, arguing that the trial court had overstepped its authority.
At the moment, the crisis centres around the running of the twenty-three local government areas, as the former chairmen, whose tenure have expired, are insisting that they have the right to remain in office, citing an amended law by the embattled Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
Governor Fubara had on Monday, June seventeen, directed all Heads of Local Government Administration in the state to take charge of councils starting Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
However, the former chairmen vowed to remain in office, insisting that the embattled faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Amaewhule had extended their tenure by six months.
Their refusal to quit the office triggered controversies that turned bloody on Tuesday when supporters of the incumbent governor and Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT clashed.
At least, two security operatives paid the supreme price during the violent clash.
