The Supreme Court has invalidated the Rivers State Local Government (LG) election held on October 5, 2024, removing all 23 council chairmen who emerged victorious.
Delivering the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Jamilu Tukur, speaking on behalf of the five-member panel, ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) failed to meet the necessary legal requirements for conducting the election.
Violation of Electoral Act
The court held that the election, won by candidates of the All Peoples Party (APP), violated Section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022. The ruling aligns with an earlier judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voter register to RSIEC for the election.
In that ruling, delivered on September 30, 2024, Justice Peter Lifu also restrained the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the polls.
Failure to Follow Due Process
The court found RSIEC at fault for scheduling the election without adhering to mandatory legal procedures. Justice Lifu ruled that:
- RSIEC failed to issue the required 90-day notice before the election.
- The update and revision of the voter register had not been completed before the election date was set.
As a result, the Federal High Court had ordered INEC not to release the voter register until all legal requirements were met. It also barred RSIEC from accepting or using any voter register from INEC for the election.
With the Supreme Court upholding this decision, the 23 council chairmen elected on October 5 have been removed, leaving the future of local governance in Rivers State uncertain.
