Rivers State Local Government Elections Upheld.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court ruling that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for conducting local government elections.
Appellate Court’s Ruling
In its decision, a special panel led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi declared that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
The court explained that Section 28 of the Electoral Act pertains only to federal elections, governorship elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, not state-conducted elections.
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The appellate court also criticized the Federal High Court’s directive preventing security agencies from carrying out their constitutional duties during the electoral process.
Background
The Federal High Court ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, had criticized RSIEC for setting October 5 as the election date without adhering to the mandatory 90-day notice required under the local government election law.
Justice Lifu further argued that updating and revising the voters’ register should have been completed before a valid election date could be established.
The judge had subsequently ordered INEC not to release the Certified Voters’ Register to RSIEC until all legal requirements were met.
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Rivers State Local Government Elections Upheld and Reactions
The appeal is one of several filed by aggrieved parties challenging judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning political cases in Rivers State. Justice Onyekachi Otisi, who led the appellate panel, had previously reserved judgment on consolidated appeals contesting Justice Lifu’s decisions.
