- Osun APC to Adeleke: Your Visit to Akande Won’t Save You
- Bode George Warns Tinubu Against Threats to Democracy
- ‘Obasa’s Reinstatement an International Embarrassment’
Just as tensions in Rivers State seemed to ease following a Supreme Court ruling, 22 local government chairmen elected during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi have declared themselves the legitimate leaders of the state’s councils.
The group, elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, made their claim at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, citing a Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated them.
The chairmen had been removed in 2015 by a Federal High Court ruling after Governor Nyesom Wike assumed office. However, the recent Court of Appeal decision, delivered on February 28, 2025, nullified that ruling, stating that their election was legally conducted.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Benson Imie, former chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, said the court criticized the Federal High Court for denying the appellants a fair hearing. “The Court of Appeal ruled that the 2015 judgment violated our constitutional rights and set it aside,” he stated.
The chairmen also referenced a separate Supreme Court ruling on the same day, which invalidated the October 5, 2024, local government election for breaching Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) laws, creating vacancies in the councils.
Reginald Ukwoma, former chairman of Etche Local Government Council, emphasized that the reinstated chairmen did not require a new swearing-in. “We have already taken our oaths of office. We are only awaiting the Certified True Copies of the judgments before resuming duty,” he said.
The group expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for upholding judicial independence and ensuring justice prevailed.
Osun APC Slams Adeleke Over Akande Visit
Meanwhile, in Osun State, the APC has criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke for visiting former governor and ex-APC national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, over the local government crisis.
The party, in a statement by its director of media, Kola Olabisi, dismissed Adeleke’s visit as an attempt to secure a “soft landing.” It accused the governor of seeking to bypass legal and political processes.
“We remind Governor Adeleke that Pa Akande is a democrat and will not betray his party,” the statement read. It further questioned why Adeleke had not challenged the February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal ruling at the Supreme Court.
Adeleke, who met Akande in Ibadan alongside top government officials, described the visit as a mark of respect. In response, Akande called for an end to political violence and urged all parties to uphold the rule of law.
Bode George Warns Tinubu: ‘Darkness Looms’
In a strongly worded open letter, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, cautioned President Tinubu about threats to democracy, citing political crises in Osun, Lagos, and Rivers states.
George condemned the handling of the Osun local government dispute, accused federal authorities of bias, and warned against a repeat of Nigeria’s past political collapses.
He also criticized the reinstatement of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, calling it “absolute lunacy” and an “international embarrassment.” Obasa had been impeached by 36 out of 40 lawmakers in January, yet was controversially reinstated.
On Rivers State, George decried the economic crisis caused by political instability, urging Tinubu to prioritize national welfare over partisan interests. “Democracy is under threat,” he warned.
