Court halts Rivers election, blocks voter register over breach

A Federal High Court in Abuja has again restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government election, scheduled for October 5, 2024.

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

Delivering judgment in a case brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the RSIEC’s decision to proceed with the election violated several legal provisions.

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The case, argued by senior lawyers Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, centered on RSIEC’s failure to comply with local government election laws, including not issuing the mandatory 90-day notice prior to setting the election date.

Justice Lifu underscored the importance of adhering to the law, stating that the update and revision of the voters’ register should have been completed before a valid election date could be set.

Legal experts suggest this ruling could have broader implications for electoral integrity in Nigeria, as it highlights the necessity of ensuring that all electoral procedures are followed to the letter.

Dr. Femi Ojo, a constitutional law expert, commented, “This ruling reinforces the importance of procedural fairness in elections. Any deviation from legal standards undermines the credibility of the electoral process.”

The court ordered INEC not to provide the certified voters’ register to RSIEC until all legal requirements have been met, effectively halting the October 5 local government poll.