Court Stops Extending Tenure Of LG Officials.

Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interim injunction maintaining the status quo amidst the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly’s move to extend the tenures of elected local government councils’ officials.

Recall that the Amaewhule-led Assembly amended the Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018, amidst the political crisis in the state, which allows the House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the elected chairmen and councilors where elections are not held before the expiration of their three-year tenure.

The suit was filed by Executive Chairmen of Opobo-Nkoro, Enyiada Cookey-Gam; Bonny, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, and five other elected council officials against the Assembly’s decision.

The court, presided over by Justice G.N. Okonkwo ordered that the claimant enter into an undertaking of N5 million if the case is found frivolous.

Justice Okonkwo also directed all parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing.

The court thereafter fixed April 22, 2024, to hear the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction