The Spokesperson of Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by groups loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to use the Federal High Court to secure an order stopping October 5 local government elections in Rivers State.
The lawmaker also alleged of a plot to seize the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account.
Ugochinyere, who made this known in a statement on Friday night, vowed that nothing will stop the scheduled local government elections from holding as stipulated in the electoral laws.
He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to begin urgent reforms in the Federal High Court, saying that the court was being used to issue what he called endless and baseless exparte orders in favour of pro-Wike groups.
The lawmaker added that the unlawful actions being taken by some judicial officers can lead to the collapse of democracy.
He said, “I want to advise the pro-Wike groups to stop all these desperation, all aimed at stopping the local government election which cannot be possible. They have cases they are filing in FCT High Court and another one in this same Federal High Court to stop the allocation that’s supposed to be coming to Rivers state.
“Look at the kind of madness people imagine and draft just to destabilise Rivers state. I want to use this opportunity to advise the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Justice Tsoho, Nigerians are watching, exparte applications are being filed all in favour of pro-Wike group, under your watch. These are the kind of things that can lead to collapse of democracy. What’s going on at that Federal High Court. I want to alert Nigerians of this strange judicial abracadabra.
“The local government election in Rivers State will hold on October 3rd. The electoral laws are very simple, there’s no court order that can stop elections. Why do we need to drag down FHC because of Wike groups? Do you want to destroy it completely? Almost about thirty something suits because of on single individual. Is this what Justice Tsoho’s Federal High Court will be known for?. The new CJN should start her reforms in Federal High Courts. This election must hold.”
