….. Federal High Court Issues Interim Injunction Against INEC in Rivers State
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction restraining 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. The order, issued by Justice Peter Lifu, came in response to a motion ex-parte filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC’s motion, supported by senior lawyers Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, sought to prevent INEC from sharing the voter data with RSIEC. The APC argued that such a move would contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, asserting that only INEC has the authority to compile, maintain, and update the national voter register.
The court order also restrains the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the local government elections in Rivers State. Justice Lifu mandated that all parties maintain the status quo until the substantive suit is resolved.
Justice Lifu further directed the APC to publish the court’s orders in two national dailies to ensure that the defendants are duly notified. The case is scheduled for a hearing on August 2, 2024.
The injunction aims to ensure that the electoral process in Rivers State adheres to legal and constitutional requirements, pending a thorough judicial review of the APC’s allegations against INEC and RSIEC.
