A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, the state capital, ruled on Tuesday that the tenure extensions of the 23 local government chairmen of the state is null and void.

This came as the court found Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which prolonged local government chairmen's tenures by six months after they expired, illegal.

The court held that the law is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councilors.

Justice, D.G. Kio, in his judgment, said the recent extension of local government chairmen’s tenure was invalid in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.

Justice, D.G. Kio, also declared that the Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the LG chairmen’s tenure by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.

The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for LG chairmen and councillors remained three years as stipulated by the 2018 law, saying any attempt to extend the tenure is unlawful, and violates the officials’ oath of office.