BREAKING: Supreme Court Declares Rivers LG Election Invalid; See Full Details
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the Rivers State Local Government elections held on October 5, 2024. In a landmark ruling on Friday, a five- member panel led by Justice Jamilu Tukur declared the election invalid, citing procedural irregularities.
The apex court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had previously set aside a lower court’ s ruling on jurisdictional grounds. By its judgment, the Supreme Court reinstated the ruling of the Federal High Court, effectively annulling the entire election process.
Background Of The Case
The legal battle began when Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order restraining the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) from conducting the local government elections. The judge had emphasized the need for an updated voter register before proceeding with the polls.
In addition to halting the election process, the Federal High Court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide RSIEC with an updated voter register to ensure a fair and credible election. Furthermore, the court prohibited security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), from providing security for the election.
Supreme Court’ s Final Verdict
The Supreme Court’ s decision to invalidate the election is a significant legal development, reinforcing the importance of electoral transparency and adherence to due process. This ruling means that the October 5, 2024, local government election results are void, and a new electoral process will have to be initiated under proper legal and administrative conditions.
This judgment follows a series of legal disputes involving the Rivers State government and electoral authorities. The court’ s decision is expected to have major political implications, particularly for local governance in the state.
As Nigerians await further reactions from political stakeholders, this ruling highlights the judiciary’ s role in upholding electoral integrity. More details will emerge as the situation develops.
