Supreme Court voids Rivers LG election

By Jude Opara

The Supreme Court yesterday declared as invalid, illegal, null and void, the local government election conducted in Rivers state on October 5, 2024, and won by the All Peoples Party, (APP).

The apex court held that the election was invalid because all conditions precedent billed to be implemented were jettisoned by Rivers State Electoral Commission.

Specifically, Justice Jamilu Tukur who delivered the lead verdict held that the council poll was conducted in gross violation of section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 30, 2024 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 elections in the state.

The court had also barred the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of the State Services, (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.

The suit was argued on behalf of the APC by a team of 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, 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.

Among others, the judge held that the failure of the Rivers electoral body violated provisions of local government election conduct law for not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.

Justice Peter Lifu also held that the update and revision of voter 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 voter register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.

Justice Peter Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting any voter register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5, 2024 local government poll.