Fresh Crisis in Rivers! Appeal Court Reverses 2015 Sack of APC LG Chairmen, Compounding Political Tensions
Afnews Editor
Feb 28, 2025
Rivers State's political crisis worsens as the Court of Appeal overturns the 2015 sack of APC local government chairmen, while the Supreme Court has already nullified the LG election conducted by Governor Sim Fubara. What happens next? Read full details here!
The political crisis in Rivers State has deepened as the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on Friday, February 28, 2025, overturned the 2015 judgment of the Federal High Court, which had sacked All Progressives Congress (APC)-elected local government chairmen.
READ ALSO: NIGERIA @ 59: HON. PRESTIGE CALLS FOR UNITY, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
This development comes amid an already chaotic situation, as the Supreme Court recently nullified the local government elections conducted by Governor Sim Fubara, leaving Rivers State in a state of legal and administrative limbo.
READ ALSO: TAX DEFAULT: ARREST JAY JAY OKOCHA NOW, COURT ORDERS
With this fresh ruling, legal experts and political analysts are questioning who now controls the local governments in Rivers State-the APC chairmen sacked in 2015 or the PDP appointees following the Supreme Court judgment?
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
APC Chairmen's Sack in 2015 Reversed-How It Started
READ ALSO: How I Got To My Current Position - Billionaire, Tony Elumelu Gives Success Tips
The case dates back to 2015, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and then-Governor Nyesom Wike challenged the legitimacy of local government elections held before he assumed office.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
The Federal High Court ruled in Wike's favor, sacking the APC-elected chairmen. However, the affected officials were never allowed to defend themselves in court, leading them to appeal the ruling.
A three-man panel led by Justice A. H. Lager-Balogun faulted the Federal High Court for:
READ ALSO: IKPEAZU, ICPC, VINDICATES OBINNA ORIAKU, SHAME DETRACTORS
 Failing to determine its jurisdiction before issuing its ruling.
READ ALSO: PPPRA Reveals How FG Spent N8.9trillion on Subsidy |SEE DETAILS
 Excluding the affected chairmen from the case, despite their direct interest.
As a result, the Appeal Court nullified the 2015 judgment, stating that it was legally defective and void.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: I AM NOT YET DONE WITH UMUAHIA ISI-GATE SAYS UMUAHIA NORTH TC CHAIRMAN
No Clear Ruling on the Fate of the LG Councils
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
While the Court of Appeal set aside the 2015 judgment, it declined to make any consequential orders regarding who should take over the 23 local government councils. This has left room for further legal and political battles over the control of Rivers' grassroots governance.
What Next? APC Chairmen Push for Resumption
READ ALSO: NIGERIA @ 59: HON. PRESTIGE CALLS FOR UNITY, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
Following the ruling, one of the affected chairmen, Reginald Ukwuoma, has already declared that the APC-elected officials should immediately return to office, citing the vacuum created by the Supreme Court's recent judgment, which invalidated the local government election conducted under Governor Sim Fubara's administration.
READ ALSO: TAX DEFAULT: ARREST JAY JAY OKOCHA NOW, COURT ORDERS
"With this judgment, we believe the legal path is now clear for us to return to our rightful positions. The Supreme Court has already nullified Fubara's election of new LG chairmen, meaning there's a vacuum. We are ready to resume."
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
More Confusion as Legal Battles Loom
READ ALSO: How I Got To My Current Position - Billionaire, Tony Elumelu Gives Success Tips
Despite the Appeal Court ruling, it remains unclear whether the Rivers State Government under Governor Sim Fubara will recognize the APC chairmen, given the ongoing power tussle between him and Wike's loyalists.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Additionally, counsel to the embattled chairmen, James Kalu-Momg, has stated that they will review the judgment carefully before deciding on their next legal steps, hinting at potential further court actions.
Rivers Politics in Turmoil: Who Will Take Over the LGs?
READ ALSO: IKPEAZU, ICPC, VINDICATES OBINNA ORIAKU, SHAME DETRACTORS
This ruling has thrown Rivers State into a deeper political crisis, as the Supreme Court had earlier sacked Governor Fubara's LG chairmen, leaving the local government structure in complete uncertainty.
READ ALSO: PPPRA Reveals How FG Spent N8.9trillion on Subsidy |SEE DETAILS
Will Governor Fubara allow the 2015 APC-elected officials to return, or will he seek alternative legal maneuvers to maintain control? As tensions escalate, all eyes are on the next political and legal moves in this high-stakes power struggle.
Related Stories
REVEALED: How All Progressives Congress (APC) Played Into The Opposition Hands Ahead Of 2027 - Sumner Sambo Warns
I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Tinubu Breaks Silence on Hardship, Inflation, Power Crisis - Vows Nigeria Will Overcome Economic Storm
"Terrorists Have Outgunned Our TroopsÔÇØ - Ndume Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram War, Sends Urgent Message To Tinubu
""
— Afnews Editor