MORE CRISIS IN IMO LGA AS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN SUSPENDED IN 2011 CALL FOR THEIR REINSTATEMENT

The struggle for power in the twenty-seven local government areas of Imo State seems to have taken another dimension as elected chairmen whose tenure was truncated in 2011 by the last administration in the state are now laying claims to the office.

The former Chairmen, who were elected in 2010 but could not serve out their tenure are calling on the State Government to rather reinstate them to office, claiming that there was no election in the third tier of government in 2018.

Addressing Journalists in Owerri, spokesperson for the group and then Chairman of Nwangele Local Government Area, Chief Ezekiel Chukwukere, says contrary to the claims by the recently suspended local government Chairmen of APC extraction on the supreme court judgment, it was those who were duly elected in 2010 that should benefit from the said declaration.

Chief Chukwukere noted that despite series of court rulings, which went in their favour, the last administration in the state failed to comply rather it chose to conduct a quasi election few months to the end of its tenure.

The group warned the purported suspended chairmen and councilors to stop disturbing the peace in the state, especially now that government had obtained an order restraining further actions but called on the police to be more vigilant.

The Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo led faction of the APC in the state had in a news conference dissociated the party from the attempted forceful takeover of the local government areas by the suspended officials, describing the party as a law abiding one.

The police in the state had also warned that it would deal decisively with anyone trying to breach the peace in the councils urging anyone who felt aggrieved to approach the court.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU