Court prohibits INEC, Police from involvement in Rivers LG polls

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections, set for October 5, 2024.

Additionally, the court prohibited the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from offering security for the election.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the ruling in response to a lawsuit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party’s legal team, comprising Senior Advocates of Nigeria Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, argued the case.

Justice Lifu ruled that RSIEC prematurely scheduled the October 5 election without fulfilling the necessary legal requirements. The court noted that RSIEC failed to comply with the local government election law, specifically the mandate to publish a 90-day notice ahead of the election.

The court also emphasized that the voters’ register must be updated and revised before a valid election date could be established. Consequently, INEC was instructed not to provide the certified voters’ register to RSIEC until all legal conditions were satisfied. RSIEC was similarly ordered not to accept or use any voters’ register from INEC for the October 5 elections.