The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has summoned judges over Rivers State conflicting court rulings on its political matter. The CJN also summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for questioning today. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up a panel to probe the judges, while the CJN has ordered that the report be submitted this week. The panel will be headed by a former Court of Appeal Justice and two Heads of Courts. The Chief Judge of Rivers State High Court will also appear before the NJC panel next week for the same purpose.
On September 4, a High Court in the State held that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) could conduct the LGA elections using the 2023 voter register.
However, on September 30, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.
The court also restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies from providing security during the polls.
However, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara insisted that RSIEC would proceed with the election, saying the court order did not stop the exercise.
On October 2, INEC said it had not released the voter register in compliance with the ruling, but RSIEC said it had received a copy of the register from INEC since 2023.
On October 5, the RSIEC conducted council elections in the 23 LGAs in the state. The election was held amid a lingering feud between Nyesom Wike, the immediate former governor of the state, and his successor Fubara.
