The Supreme Court has nullified the October 5, 2024, Local Government Elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), citing gross violations of the Electoral Act and procedural irregularities.
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In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji ruled that the elections failed to meet legal requirements, thereby restoring an earlier Federal High Court verdict that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to RSIEC for the polls.
- Failure to Meet Legal Conditions: The court held that RSIEC did not comply with Section 150(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, which mandates strict pre-election procedures.
- Illegal Voter Registration Extension: Justice Tukur noted that RSIEC continued voter registration beyond the election date, rendering the process compromised and unlawful.
- Violation of Electoral Timelines: The court found that RSIEC failed to issue the mandatory 90-day notice before the elections, further invalidating the process.
- Jurisdictional Overreach by the Court of Appeal: The Supreme Court faulted the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier overturned the Federal High Court’s ruling, affirming instead that the trial court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
- INEC’s Role in the Elections: The court upheld the Federal High Court’s order barring INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC, stressing that no election should have been conducted without legal compliance.
The Supreme Court’s decision effectively nullifies all positions won in the disputed local government elections, leaving the leadership of the 23 LGAs in limbo.
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