The Former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marshall Stanley-Uwom, has taken legal action against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeking to stop the allocation of federal funds to the Rivers State Sole Administrator.
In a suit filed before the Federal High Court, Stanley-Uwom argues that the appointment of the Sole Administrator in Rivers State is unconstitutional and contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires duly elected local government officials to assume office. He further contends that the continued funding of the Sole Administrator by the federal government is illegal, as it undermines the democratic process.
The Rivers State government recently appointed a Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the local government, following the suspension of local council elections in the state. However, critics have argued that the appointment is politically motivated and an attempt to bypass the electoral process.
Stanley-Uwom, who served as Deputy Speaker during the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike, is requesting the court to grant an injunction to prevent the federal government from releasing any more funds to the Sole Administrator’s office until the legal issues surrounding the appointment are resolved.
The suit has drawn widespread attention, with many political analysts viewing it as a direct challenge to the federal government’s handling of local government affairs in Rivers State.
Legal experts have said that the outcome of the case could set a significant precedent on the legality of appointing Sole Administrators in states where local government elections have been delayed or suspended.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government, under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has yet to comment on the legal challenge, but sources close to the administration have indicated that the government is confident in the legality of its actions.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the political atmosphere in Rivers State remains tense, with opposition parties and civil society groups closely monitoring the case.
