LAWMAKER DRAGS RIVERS GOVERNOR TO COURT

The Lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd has dragged the State Government to Court over the improper constitution of the newly inaugurated 5 man-panel Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSEIC. According to the two-time and fiery lawmaker who made his mark during the second tenure of Gov. Odili and stands out as one of the best in the House, Lloyd who spoke to The Beam in a telephone chat asserted his earlier position in challenging the actions of the Governor, a move which drew the ire of a faction of the PDP against him. Hon. Lloyd was purportedly suspended by the party at the ward level and was made to face the disciplinary committee of the Party headed by Hon. Ohochukwu. The action of the lawmaker was based on the provisions of the Constitution which stipulates that those to be appointed into the Commission must not be of questionable character and must not be card-carrying members of any political Party. Lloyd was said to have also disagreed with the leadership of the House for not following due process in the selection and screening of the members of the Commission.

Further checks by this weekly indicates that one of the members of the Commission, Chief Mike Nwileaghi is the State Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in the state and also a member of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP. Nwileaghi is alleged to have always been a stooge of the ruling PDP. Another member of the Commission is alleged to be a criminal and the campaign manager of the Chief Executive. Sources say the decision by the government to rush the conduct of the elections is borne out of the fear that the Supreme Court may annul Omehia’s candidature when the case comes up soon after the recess by Supreme Court Judges. A member of the opposition party who spoke to us said the Action Congress is not bothered about the election as ‘‘the Court would soon confirm the illegality of Omehia’s government and very action taken by the government would be reversed.’’