Rivers LG Poll: Court stops INEC from releasing voters’ register

By Jude Opara

A Federal High Court in Abuja on yesterday again stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) from releasing voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the October 5, 2024 local government election in the state.
The Court also barred the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) and the Department of the State Service (DSS) from providing security.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
The suit was argued on behalf of the APC by a team of senior lawyers comprising Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja, all SANs.
Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the poll when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
Among others, the judge held that the Rivers State electoral body violated provisions of the local government election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.
Justice Peter Lifu also held that the update and revision of voters’ register ought to have been concluded before an election date can be legally and validity fixed in law.
The judge therefore ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.
Justice Peter Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting any voters’ register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5 local governments poll.