Rivers gives Accord seven days to relocate party office

Rivers State government has given a political party, Accord, seven days to relocate its party’s secretariat, saying its location contravenes Executive Order 22 of the government.

The government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, on November 23, issued a Discontinuation Notice, saying the secretariat at No 5b Ndoni Street, GRA, Port Harcourt, is within residential area.

The notice, which was signed by the ministry’s Commissioner, Austen Ben-Chioma, noted that the conversion of the once residential property to a commercial property without permit from the ministry violates Article 43 (Change of Purpose Clause) in the land Use Regulation 20210 of the Rivers State Official Gazzette No. 1, Vol. 48 of January 25, 2012 and the Executive Order Rivers State Government of 2022.

The commissioner, in the notice addressed to the chairman of Accord in the state, however, asked the party to apply to the ministry for a possible grant or permit, revert to the original use of the property and stop the use of the premises for party office.

The statement reads: “This unilateral change of use/purpose of the building/structure is constituting nuisance to residents and other users in this area.”

“Take note that your premises shall be sealed off if you fail to comply with this notice within seven days from today, being November 23, 2022.”

Meanwhile, Accord is yet to make any formal statement regarding the notice.