A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt,Thursday, dissolved the 22 local government councils in the state.
Justice Lambo Akonbi of the Federal High Court 1, in his ruling said the decision of the administration of former governor Chibuike Amaechi to go ahead with the conduct of the council election on May 23 inspite of a court order asking all parties to maintain status quo a flagrant abuse of court process and disregard for rule of law.
There was an explosion outside the court premises.
At press time there was heavy presence of security men on the ever busy Station road where the High court is located.
Meanwhile, By Ayo Balogun, Abuja – Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Rivers APC Governorship candidate at the April 11, 2015 Governorship election and his party today floored Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The tribunal ordered that All Progressives Party (APC) be allowed to inspect the electoral materials and forensic analysis be conducted on any materials found to have been tampered with.
The judge also overruled the application on jurisdiction brought by Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike.
Chief Akin Olunjinmi, leading counsel to Dr. Peterside described the prayer and motion on jurisdiction as a deliberate attempt and “game-plan” to delay the tribunal’s sitting.
With the ruling on jurisdiction and other motions done with, the hearing of the substantive issues and the epic battle challenging the result of the April 11, 2015 Governorship election in Rivers will begin July 23rd.
The Rivers governorship election has been described as the worst election ever conducted in Nigeria as police and other security agencies looked the other way as political PDP thugs, hoodlums openly bombed, maimed and killed many APC supporters during the electioneering campaigns.