A High Court of Rivers State, sitting in Port Harcourt had declared that there’s no going back on Rivers Local Government election scheduled to hold Saturday, October 5.
Justice I. P. C. Igwe made the declaration while ruling on the suit between: Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Government Defendants, and Governor of Rivers State.
He ruled that the Defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.
Justice Igwe ordered as follows: “That upon the construction of Section 7 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999, as amended, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.
“That in view of Section 7 subsection 1, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended, Section 5(A) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. Law No 2 of 2018, the Decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Delivered on the 11th day of July 2024 in Suit No. SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of Federation Vs Attorney General of Abia State and 35 Ors and expiration of the tenure of the former Democratically elected Local Government Councils in Rivers State on the 17th day of June 2024, the Defendants are bound to conduct Election into the Local Government Councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time to comply with aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“That it is further declared that in view of Section 5 (a) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No 2 of 2018, Section 9(1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the exigencies of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on the 11th day of July 2024 In Suit No SC/CV/343/2024: Attorney-General of the Federation VS Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors, the 1st Defendant is entitled to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9(1)(a}, (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, already in custody of the 1st Defendant to conduct Election into the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.
“That it is also declared that in view of the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria following the said Judgment in Sult No SC/CV/343/2024 Delivered on the 11th day of July 2024 to the effect that all states without Democratically elected Local Government Councils in place should conduct Elections into their respective Local Government Councils within three (3) months from the date of the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the defendants are bound to conduct elections into Local Government Councils in Rivers State on or before the expiration of the said three (3) months period, on the 5th day of October 2024 and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Election, including sale of forms to candidates and their parties including the Claimant who Is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils.
“That an order of mandatory Injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 2nd and 3rd Defendant by themselves, or by their agents, privies, servants or representatives and proxies to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Council in Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are Conducted by democratically Elected Local Government Councils.
“That it is further ordered that mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 1st Defendant to conduct election into Local Government Councils of Rivers State on the 5th Day of October 2024 or on any other date fixed by the 1st Defendant in accordance with its Electoral Guidelines to comply with the aforesaid Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said Elections including sale of forms to candidates and their parties, Including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils.
“That an order of mandatory Injunction be and is hereby further issued directing or commanding the 1st Defendant to utilize the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to Section 9 (1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to conduct Election into the twenty-three Local Government Councils of Rivers State.
“That the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Nigeria Army and all other Security Agencies and Paramilitary Organizations are hereby ordered to provide adequate security and ensure maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the Election.”
Reacting to the court judgment, the Spokesperson of Nigeria’s Opposition lawmakers coalition in Nigeria, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, in a statement hailed the judgment saying that it was a victory for democracy.
Hon. Ugochinyere who doubles as Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) stated that the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike’s efforts to stop the polls have been put to shame with this court judgement.
Ugochinyere said: “This court judgment has saved democracy not just in Rivers State but the nation as a whole. The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has been put to shame with this court judgement.
“We thank the Judiciary for saving democracy and upholding the rule of law.
“The Local Government election in rivers state will hold as scheduled. The electoral laws are very simple, there’s no court order that can stop elections.”
In another vein, Nigeria’s Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the October 5 local government election in the state.
It is gathered that Justice Peter Lifu issued the order while ruling on a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.