Rivers state is no stranger to controversy. From it’s brash former governor to the even less than subtle Governor. Wike, Rivers state is almost always a theater of the absurd.
A week before Gov. Rotimi Amaechi vacated office, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission conducted an election for Local Government chairmen as well as Councillors.
The Peoples Democratic Party opposed the conduct of the RSIEC in the run up to the election and eventually boycotted the elections. The PDP also filed a motion asking that the election be put on hold. Nevertheless, the election was conducted and it saw the emergence of 22 Local government Chairmen as well as Councillors.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt sitting today ruled that the elections conducted by the RSIEC was unconstitutional and therefore had no legal bearing. Justice Akanbi ruled that the elections held by RSIEC was unconstitutional given that the matter was pending in court.
The nullification is a political victory for Governor Wike who had earlier to do everything he could to upturn the elections.