With the October 5, 2024, Rivers State Local Government, LG, election fast approaching, confusion has hit the State with a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issuing an order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC from releasing State’s voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, for the purpose of conducting the LG elections.
The court also barred the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the Department of the State Service, DSS from providing security for the election.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order 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. They comprised Senior Advocates of Nigeria; Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja.
Giving the order, Justice Lifu stated that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date. This is even as all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
The judge also held that the Rivers State electoral body violated provisions of the Local Government election conduct law. This is by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.
Justice Lifu also held that the update and revision of voters’ register ought to have been concluded before an election date can be legally and validity fixed in law.
He, therefore, ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC. This is until the law has been fully complied with.
The judge also barred RSIEC from accepting any voters’ register from INEC. Or using it for the purpose of the October 5 Local Governments elections.
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