Desmond Iwuchukwu
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights CDHR says it will challenge Executive Orders 21 and 22 recently signed by Governor Nyesom Wike in a court of law.
The National Legal Adviser for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights Henry Ekine said this while speaking to newsmen following the enactment of Executive Order 22 by Governor Nyesom Wike.
Executive Order twenty-two seeks to bar political parties and politicians from pasting posters of their activities on public and private buildings or using the same as campaign offices unless they obtain approval from the Rivers State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning.
Executive Order 21 states that political parties seeking to use public schools for political rallies must get permission from the Commissioner of Education in Rivers State two weeks before the day of the rally alongside a five million naira security fee.
The National Legal Adviser for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights Henry Ekine while speaking to newsmen also called on political parties in Rivers State who are not comfortable with the orders to seek judicial redress.
He said the Executive Orders are unconstitutional and illegal stating that Governor Wike does not have the powers to make such laws.
The National Legal Adviser for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights Henry Ekine also said that Executive Order 22 contravenes the Electoral Act as Amended.
Henry Ekine further said that Governors do not have the power to stop political parties from holding rallies and campaigns.
He said the group will soon launch the lawsuit to stop what it described as Executive rascality by the Rivers State Government.
The Human Rights Advocate said the group is not comfortable with the unfolding of political events in Rivers State.
Henry Ekine added that the Executive Orders could lead to political violence in Rivers State.
