The Supreme Court has today nullifies and declared as invalid, illegal, null and void, the local government election conducted in Rivers state on October 5, 2024, that was won by the All Peoples Party, APP. The apex court ruled that the election was illegal because all conditions that were billed to be implemented were jettisoned by Rivers State Electoral Commission.
The presiding judge,, Justice Jamilu Tukur while delivering the verdict held that the council poll was conducted in gross violation of section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Recall, A federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on September 30, 2024 stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from availing voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, for the purpose of conducting the said local council poll.
Similarly the court also barred the Inspector General of Police IGP and the Department of the State Services, DSS, from providing security.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order against INEC while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
A team of some APC lawyers led by Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja, all SANs argued for the ruling party.
Justice Lifu nullified the action of RSIEC as wrong in fixing the date for the conduct of the election in the first place when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
More so, the judge upheld that the action 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, and that action crumbled the whole process.
Justice Peter Lifu also held that the law requires an update and revision of voter register before any election be conducted otherwise all the process become illegal.
Meanwhile, the Judge 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.
