Supreme Court sacks Rivers Council Chairmen

• Declares Oct 5 polls invalid

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has sacked all local government chairmen in Rivers State after holding that the October 5, 2024 election that brought them into office was invalid.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court invalidated the election on the grounds that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) that conducted the polls did not comply with the Electoral Act and guidelines.

The court held that there is no evidence that voter registration was completed at least 90 days before the election or that the required notices were properly issued.

The court held that the processes leading to the conduct of the election blatantly violated section 150 of the Electoral Act and subsequently declared it void.

A Federal High court in Abuja on Monday 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 Service 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 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 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 Rivers Electoral body violated provision of local governments 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 voter register ought to have been concluded before an election date conduct 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 local governments poll.