The battle for who takes over affairs of the councils in Imo State is taking another turn with those elected in 2010 by the Chief Ikedi Ohakim administration coming up stronger to reclaim the LGA secretariats despite the recent favourable judgment those elected in 2018 got.
A fresh war over who should be in charge of the LGAs was opened about two weeks ago when the Federal High Court in Owerri presided by Justice Ringim declared null and void the appointment of Interim Management Committee in place of the elected chairmen and councilors.
It would be recalled that those elected by Owelle Rochas Okorocha in 2018 went to court to challenge their removal and succeeded in getting victory.
But while the state government rushed to Appeal Court for stay of Execution and also to challenge the Federal High Court judgment, those elected in 2010 under Ohakim came up again asking for their consideration to be incharge of the councils since they were the first victims of illegal sack despite obtaining repeated court judgments ordering their return during Okorocha’s tenure.
Trumpeta notes that when Okorocha came into power in 2011, he sacked the elected chairmen. Despite going to court to obtain favourable judgment that asked for their return, the former governor refused to abide to the decision. The matter was at the Supreme Court stage before the 2018 elected chairmen went to court.
This newspaper learnt that the 2011 elected chairmen have gone back to the Appeal Court over the latest development. Details have it that they are stopping the implementation of the Ringim judgment and are asking for the respect of their own judgment against that administration of Okorocha which was first pronounced.
By this action, the 2011 elected officials are posing a threat to the implementation of the Ringim judgment and continued use of Interim Management Committee by the Uzodinma administration.
The Ohakim elected chairmen are seeking order of the court to Appeal against the Federal High Court judgment.
Imo State Government has also taken note of their interest by using their case as a yardstick for all to respect the status quo order the obtained in court.
