The Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence has commended the landmark ruling of the Supreme Court which declared Rivers State Local Government elections null and void due to non-compliance with electoral laws.
The group’s FCT Chapter Coordinator, Mark Ogah, at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said that with this ruling, it is now clear that all legislative activities carried out by the illegal four-man House of Assembly—laws passed, budgets approved, and appointments confirmed—are now invalid.
Ogah urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to immediately respect Supreme Court’s ruling and restore democratic governance in Rivers State as any attempt to undermine this judgment would amount to a blatant disregard for the Constitution and the principles of democracy.
He added that as the Chief Executive of the state, the governor must demonstrate leadership by upholding the rule of law and ensuring that governance is conducted in line with constitutional provisions, adding that no democracy can survive on illegality.
The group further said that deliberate sidelining of the Rivers State House of Assembly for over a year and half has been an assault on democratic governance.
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According to it, the people of Rivers State have suffered under an unconstitutional arrangement that disregarded the legislative arm of government and now that the Supreme Court has ruled, it is expected that immediate steps would be taken to reinstate legitimate legislative authority in the state.
The Arewa Youths warned against any further acts of executive lawlessness or attempts to suppress the voices of duly elected representatives.
They commended the Supreme Court for its courage and commitment to upholding the Constitution as the ruling has reaffirmed Nigerians’ faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
The group also said it is dedicated to peaceful coexistence, good governance, and democratic values and reaffirmed it commitment to defending democracy.
It said it is standing in solidarity with all progressive forces working to ensure that governance in Rivers State—and across Nigeria—aligns with the rule of law and called on all well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organizations, and political actors to support the full implementation of the judgment to protect Nigeria’s democracy.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
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