Just when it seemed Rivers State was finding some political calm, a fresh storm has erupted. 22 local government chairmen who were elected back in 2015 under the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi have declared themselves reinstated — reigniting tensions in the already volatile state.
At a dramatic press briefing in Port Harcourt, the embattled chairmen, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced their triumphant return, armed with a February 28, 2025, Court of Appeal judgement that restored their mandates.
The Legal Comeback Story
These chairmen were removed from office just months after their election, following a Federal High Court ruling in 2015 when Governor Nyesom Wike took power. But in a stunning reversal, the Court of Appeal ruled the removal unlawful, slamming the Federal High Court for denying the chairmen their right to fair hearing.
“The Court of Appeal made it clear — our 2015 election was legitimate. Our removal was a direct breach of our constitutional rights,” declared Benson Imie, former Andoni Local Government chairman.
To add fuel to the fire, the chairmen pointed to a separate Supreme Court ruling, delivered the same day, which voided the October 2024 council elections — declaring them illegal and leaving the councils without legitimate leadership.
No New Swearing-In Needed
Speaking confidently, Reginald Ukwoma, former Etche Local Government chairman, declared: “We were already sworn in before we were illegally removed. Once we have the certified court rulings, we’re moving back into our offices — no further ceremony required.”
A Thank You to Tinubu — And a Swipe at Wike
The group praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and for upholding judicial independence — a clear jab at the Wike administration, which they blame for their unlawful removal.
Bode George Sounds the Alarm: ‘Nigeria’s Democracy Is on Life Support’
Amid the escalating crises in Rivers, Osun, and Lagos, Chief Bode George, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, penned a scathing open letter to President Tinubu, warning of a looming democratic collapse.
Titled “From Osun to Lagos and Rivers: Darkness Looms,” the letter condemned the rising tide of political violence, judicial manipulation, and lawless power grabs across the states.
“We are watching democracy disintegrate in real-time,” George wrote. “We are back to the dangerous brink that destroyed the First and Second Republics.”
He reserved special outrage for Lagos, where impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a shocking return to office despite being ousted by 36 out of 40 Assembly members.
“This is absolute lunacy — an international embarrassment. Lagos has become a theatre of political absurdity,” George fumed.
Rivers State: A State on the Edge
In Rivers, the fallout from the council crisis has triggered federal funding freezes, unpaid salaries, and halted infrastructure projects — pushing the oil-rich state toward economic paralysis.
George’s message to Tinubu was blunt: intervene now or risk a total collapse. “This is no longer about politics — this is about saving Nigeria’s democracy.”
What Happens Next?
With Rivers’ reinstated chairmen poised to physically reclaim their offices, Nigeria’s political powder keg is primed to explode.
