JUST-IN: Supreme Court Declares Rivers LG Elections Invalid

The Supreme Court has declared as invalid, illegal, null and void, the local government elections conducted in Rivers state on October 5, 2024.

The All Peoples Party (APP) won majority seats in the elections.

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

Justice Jamilu Tukur of the apex court, who delivered the lead verdict on Friday, held that the local government council polls were conducted in gross violations of section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Recall that the 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 during the exercise.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order against INEC, while delivering judgement 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 polls into the 23 local government areas of the State 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 government election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90-day 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 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 government polls.