Opposition lawmakers raise alarm over plot to halt Rivers LGA allocations

Nigeria’s Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has raised concerns over an alleged move by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and a group supporting the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to secure a court injunction aimed at halting the statutory monthly allocations to Local Government Areas in Rivers State.

The spokesperson for the coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere, warned that any attempt to withhold funds from the people of Rivers State could trigger a crisis that may destabilize constitutional governance.

Ugochinyere stated that credible evidence from a reliable source indicated that the group, in collaboration with anti-democratic elements, has filed a legal process at the Federal High Court, seeking an injunction to stop the monthly fund allocations to Rivers State LGAs.

According to Ugochinyere, the Pro-Wike group remains aggrieved following the outcome of the recently concluded Rivers State LGA elections, which were held in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling that mandated the conduct of LGA elections.

He claimed the pro-Wike faction had attempted to prevent the elections from happening, intending to throw the state into chaos to serve their political interests.

The coalition spokesperson further revealed that intelligence suggests the pro-Wike group is boasting that the case will soon be assigned to judges who have previously delivered swift ex parte orders in favour of Wike’s camp.

Ugochinyere, in a statement on Tuesday, warned that the opposition is closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to alert the Nigerian public if necessary.

Ugochinyere said, “The APC and Pro Wike group as I am talking is filling a suit at the federal high court to help them seize the statutory sovereign allocation of the entire Rivers state LGA knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA Chairmen invalid but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of a revenue to an arm of government that is constitutional.

“This is the second of such cases by the Wike group to bring constitutional disorder.

“They have a pending case seeking to seize the entire Rivers allocation/LGA funds they filled, and now they are using the Wike APC faction to file another suit seeking an order to stop the Federal account allocation committee, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister of Finance, Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorney-General of Rivers State of Nigeria, and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.”

He emphasized that LGA allocations are constitutionally mandated funds belonging to a sovereign arm of government and cannot be hijacked, especially given the presence of valid LGA leadership.

Ugochinyere urged the FCT Minister’s camp to accept defeat and abandon any alleged plans to undermine the people of Rivers State.

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that unscrupulous elements do not lead the nation into anarchy or tarnish democracy under his administration.

“The APC and Pro Wike group as I am talking is filling a suit at the federal high court to help them seize the allocation of entire rivers state knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA Chairmen invalid but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of revenue to an arm of government that is constitutional.

“The people of Rivers State have elected their council chairman and councillors in line with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court to democratize all LGAs in Nigeria and any attempt to truncate democracy in Rivers would be resisted by the people.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot afford to fold his arms and watch as the Wike group plots to reverse democracy in Rivers State and undermine the peace and stability of the country.

“I hope the case doesn’t go to those who like to issue orders for the pro wike group in seconds. We are watching closely.

“The judiciary should quit granting any frivolous requests from the wike group related to the LG polls and Rivers to help save the image of the judiciary, which their desperation is undermining.”