Court Orders RSIEC To Use 2023 Voters’ Register To Conduct LG Elections On Oct 5 In Rivers

A Rivers State High Court has ordered the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct elections on October 5 to elect democratically elected officials into the 23 local government councils in the state.

The court, presided over by Justice I. P. C. Igwe, in Port Harcourt, gave the order in its final judgement on the matter in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024, between the Action Peoples Party (APP) as claimant and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Government and Governor of Rivers State as defendants.

A certified true copy of the judgment reads: Upon this matter coming up before Honourable Justice I. P. C. Igwe sitting at High Court 14, Port Harcourt for Hearing and Determination and After Hearing A. E. Godswill Esq, for the Claimant, holding the brief of E. D. A. Ojoko Esq, and Lois C. Oko Jaja Esq, for the 1st Defendant, P. Enebeli, Assistant Director Ministry of Justice, appearing for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, it is hereby 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 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.’

The final court judgement also said, “That, in 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 the 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 elections into the local government councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time to comply with the judgement described above of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“That it is further declared that in 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 utilise the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under 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 the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria following the said Judgment in Suit 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 the sale of forms to candidates and their parties including the Claimant who is interested in sponsoring candidates for offices in the Local Government Councils”.

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The court further said, “That an order of mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 2nd and 3rd defendants by themselves, or by their agents, privies, servants, representatives and proxies, to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Council in Rivers State and to ensure that Democratically Elected Local Government Councils conduct the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State.

“That it is further ordered that a mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 1st Defendant to conduct elections into Local Government Councils of Rivers State on the 5th day of October 2024 or any other date fixed by the 1st Defendant per its Electoral Guidelines to comply with the aforesaid judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and to take all necessary steps towards the conduct of the said elections, including the 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 utilise the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Section 9 (1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to conduct Elections into the twenty-three (23) Local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“That the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Army and all other security agencies and paramilitary organisations are hereby ordered to provide adequate security and ensure maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the election,” the court ruled.