Opposition federal lawmakers, under the aegis of G60, convened an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday and condemned the attempt by 23 former Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State to retain their positions after the expiration of their three-year tenure, labeling it a treasonable act.
Led by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the group held a press conference at the National Assembly in Abuja, calling on the Rivers State Government to immediately press treason charges against the former chairmen and their sponsors for their actions.
Ugochinyere, accompanied by Hon. Aliyu Mustapha (Kaduna), Hon. Matthew Nwogu (Imo), and Hon. Midaila Usman (Borno), accused the former LGA chairmen of violating several legal provisions, including Section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, Section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act, Section 12 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
These sections prohibit any group from unlawfully occupying a position of power or attempting to forcibly take over government in any part of Nigeria.
The lawmakers urged the Judiciary to remain vigilant in curbing the activities of individuals seeking to unlawfully take control of governance institutions in Rivers State or elsewhere in the country.
They condemned the former local government chairmen’s attempt to use magistrates and judges from neighboring states to conduct an illegitimate swearing-in ceremony at 5 a.m. on the day of the press conference, despite their tenure having expired on the 17th of the month.
The G60 group commended Governor Similaye Fubara and the citizens of Rivers State for resisting the attempt to unlawfully seize control of local government councils.
They praised the people of Rivers State for their courage in protecting local government institutions and thwarting the illegal takeover attempt.
“This heroic action is in line with Section 20 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, which empowers citizens to arrest and prevent any criminal act being committed in their presence,” Ugochinyere stated.
He cited Section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act of 2020, which allows private citizens to arrest suspects committing offences in their presence or whom they reasonably suspect of committing such offences.
Ugochinyere further referenced Section 37 of the Criminal Code Act, which defines treason and prescribes the death penalty for those who levy war against the State or conspire to do so with the intent of intimidating or overthrowing the President or a State Governor.
The federal lawmakers also applauded Governor Fubara for allowing the former chairmen to complete their three-year tenure without disruption, despite provocations.
They described the former chairmen’s failed attempt to cling to power as a “failed coup against democracy” that must not go unpunished.
