A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections in the state. The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Friday in response to a motion ex-parte filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The motion, presented by senior lawyers Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), was based on Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act and several rules of court procedure. It invoked the court’s inherent jurisdiction as outlined in Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Lifu’s order also restrains the Rivers Electoral Commission and the Rivers Attorney-General from receiving or utilizing any part of the National Voter’s Register related to Rivers State for conducting local government elections. Additionally, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Service (DSS) have been barred from providing security or participating in the elections.
The court further directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, meaning that no further actions should be taken regarding the elections until the substantive suit is resolved. The APC has challenged the propriety of conducting local government elections in Rivers State under the current circumstances.
Justice Lifu emphasized that the APC must undertake to compensate the defendants for any damages if the suit is later deemed frivolous. He also granted substituted service of the court’s orders and related processes through publication in two major national newspapers to ensure the defendants are informed.
In an affidavit, Tony Okocha, acting chairman of the Rivers APC, claimed that INEC had not adhered to the Electoral Act’s provisions regarding the management of the voter register. He argued that only the voter register maintained by INEC is valid for use by the Rivers Electoral Commission in conducting local government polls.
The court has scheduled August 2 for the defendants to present their responses and for a hearing on the substantive matter. Okocha stressed that the APC’s actions are aimed at ensuring justice and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State and the broader electoral framework in Nigeria. All eyes will be on the Federal High Court as it continues to deliberate on this critical issue.
