A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voter registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the state.
The court also barred the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from providing security.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order against INEC while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the 5th October 2024 date for the conduct of the poll into the 23 local governments when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
The judgment is coming on the heels of an order by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which ordered RSIEC to conduct the election in the state using the 2023 voters’ register.
Justice I. Igwe issued the order on 4 September 2024 in a case instituted by the Action People’s Party (APP) against the state electoral umpire, RSIEC.
In the suit marked PHC/2696/CS/2024, filed against RSIEC, the Rivers State Government, and the Governor of Rivers State, the court emphasized the importance of conducting elections within three months to fill vacant council positions, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The court declared that the Rivers State government and governor are bound by Section 7, subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999, as amended, to ensure that local government councils are run by democratically elected officials.
Additionally, the court ordered the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Army, and other security agencies to provide adequate security during and after the polls to prevent security breaches.
This development comes amid controversy surrounding the elections, with some parties questioning the legitimacy of the process.
However, RSIEC Chairman, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, had reassured stakeholders that the commission is prepared to conduct the elections as scheduled, citing Section 60, Subsection 2 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018.
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