Just in: Supreme Court annuls Rivers LG election, declares it invalid, null and void

The Supreme Court has declared the October 5, 2024, local government election in Rivers State, won by the All People’s Party (APP), as invalid, illegal, null and void.

This ruling followed the Rivers State Electoral Commission’s failure to implement all necessary conditions precedent to the election.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, who delivered the lead verdict, ruled that the council poll was conducted in blatant disregard of Section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Persecondnews recalls that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, September 30, 2024, issued an injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the local government elections in the state.

The court also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of the State Service (DSS) from providing security for the exercise.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order against INEC while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A team of senior lawyers, including Mr. Joseph Daudu, Mr. Sebastine Hon, and Mr. Ogwu James Onoja, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), argued the suit on behalf of the APC.

The judge held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 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, Justice Lifu held that the failure of Rivers Electoral body violated provisions of local governments election law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.

The judge also held that the update and revision of voter register ought to have been concluded before an election date be legally and validity fixed in law.

Lifu, therefore, ordered INEC not to make the certified voter register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.

He also barred RSIEC from accepting any voter register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5 local government poll.

In spite the court order, Gov. Fubara proceeded with the election, which resulted in the Action People’s Democratic Party (APP) winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats in the state.