A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by a lawyer, Williams Stanley, challenging the legality of the recently concluded August 30 local government elections in the state.
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The suit, filed against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and its chairman, questioned the legitimacy of the appointments and actions leading up to the elections.
Stanley specifically contested the appointment of the state’s Sole Administrator by President Tinubu and the subsequent nomination of the RSIEC chairman and members who oversaw the local government council polls.
Delivering judgment, Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. He noted that, under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only the Supreme Court holds exclusive authority to adjudicate such matters during a period of emergency rule.
Justice Jumbo also held that the claimant lacked locus standi to bring the suit, stating that Stanley failed to demonstrate any personal interest or violation of his civil rights arising from the actions of the defendants.
According to the court, Stanley could not prove any direct injury or hardship he would suffer if the reliefs he sought were granted. The judge further pointed out that the interest Stanley attempted to protect was not his own but that of the state governor, a position he does not hold.
On the issue of the August 30 elections, Justice Jumbo declared the polls constitutional and legitimate, emphasising that they were conducted by RSIEC and not by the Sole Administrator or the Governor.
The court declined to award any costs against the claimant.
Reacting to the judgment, Godsent Elewa, counsel to the claimant, stated that his client would consider filing an appeal.
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