The Supreme Court, on Friday, declared the Rivers State Local Government elections held on October 5, 2024, invalid.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, ruled that the conduct of the local government polls in the state was null and void.
In its decision, the apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had overturned the trial court’s ruling on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court consequently restored the decision of the Federal High Court.
It will be recalled that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier restrained the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission from proceeding with the local government elections, citing the need for an updated voter register before the polls could be conducted.
The trial court further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the updated voter register to the Rivers electoral commission to facilitate the election.
Additionally, the court barred the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies from providing security for voters during the election.
