Swearing-In: Lawyers Urge Amaechi, NJC To Appoint CJ

Activities at the Government House, Port Harcourt did
not suffer any setback despite the absence of the governor in the state, Rather, things were buoyed with the announcement by the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct local government elections in May.
Chairmen of the RSIEC, Prof. Augustine Ahiazu had announced on Monday plans by the state electoral body to organize council elections before the exit of Governor Chibuike Amaechi on 29th May.
It would be recalled that Governor Amaechi had, during the swearing-in of the first batch of Caretaker Committee Chairman in June last year, hinted that there would be council elections, when once the national elections were concluded this year.
While announcing the schedule for the elections, Prof. Ahiazu said the polls would be held in all the local government areas except Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where the tenure of the council chairman, Austin Ahiamadi will elapse later in the year.
Already, the planned elections have drawn various reactions from government and private quarters. Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd in his reaction to criticisms trailing the planned polls, said RSIEC’s plan to organise local council elections within 40 days was in line with an amended RSIEC law of 2011.
Hon. Lloyd’s view was backed by the Whip of the House, Hon. Golden Chioma representing  Etche Constituency II, when he appeared on a live phone in programme organised by Silverbird Communications in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
The Etche lawmaker said the schedule of the elections did not contravene any law since the planned elections was in line with an amended law passed by the House as far back as 2007. He carpeted those calling for the shift of the polls describing them as unpatriotic and selfish.
Also within the week, debate over the swearing-in of the governor-elect emerged with legal practitioners arguing the validity of the process without a substantive Chief Judge or the President of the Customary Court of Appeal. However, in order to prevent a constitutional  crisis, some sections of lawyers in the state pleaded with Governor Chibuike Amaechi to appoint a Chief Judge in order not to create a legal loophole.
A former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Isiokpo branch, Barrister Ndu Agumagu, suggested that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has to lift suspension on Justice Peter Agumagu, who was appointed Chief Judge by the Rivers State in 2013.
Agumagu said the measure has become necessary to avert a constitutional crisis in the state in compliance with section 185 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
He also challenged stakeholders in the judicial sector to prevail on the NJC to intervene in order to avert an impending constitutional crisis.
He said, “I am calling on the National Judicial Council as a matter of necessity to lift the suspension on Justice PNC Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State to avert an unnecessary constitutional crisis. As the constitution provides in Section (185) subsection (2) that it’s only the Chief Judge, President, Customary Court of Appeal or a Grand Khadi that can swear-in a governor”.