Rivers Chief Judge Swears In LG Election Petition Tribunals Ahead of August 30 Polls
Justice Amadi defends constitution of tribunals, insists law empowers him despite NGO criticism
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has inaugurated the chairmen and members of Local Government Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the council polls scheduled for August 30.
The tribunals, which will oversee disputes from the elections, are established across the three senatorial districts of the state.
For the Rivers East Senatorial District, Chief Magistrate Kilsi Giadom will serve as Chairman, with Promise Green and Christian John Jaja as members. In Rivers South East, Chief Magistrate Harry Sotonye Linda was named Chairman, alongside Anthony Enyinda and Azubuike Georgewill. Chief Magistrate Chimenem Okekem will chair the Rivers West tribunal, with Israel Dagogo Israel and Ala Atonibere as members.
Speaking after administering the oath of office in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Justice Amadi charged the tribunal officials to uphold fairness, courage, and integrity in the discharge of their duties. He reminded them that the judiciary and the public had placed trust in their impartiality.
The Chief Judge also explained that recent amendments to the law now shorten the election petition process, requiring petitions to be filed within five days of the poll and concluded within 30 days, unlike the previous 90-day timeline.
Responding to criticism from the Pilex Center for Civic Education Initiative, an NGO that alleged the constitution of the tribunals amounted to endorsing illegality, Justice Amadi dismissed the claims. He stressed that the Rivers State Local Government Election Tribunals Law of 2000, as amended, mandates the Chief Judge to establish the tribunals once elections are announced.
“What I’ve done is the statutory duty of the Chief Judge,” he said. “The law was not made today. It has been in existence, and I once served as chairman of a local government election tribunal under the same law. If anyone has objections, the proper place to challenge it is in court.”
The development comes as political attention intensifies in Rivers ahead of the August 30 council polls, with heightened scrutiny over the credibility of the electoral process.
