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RIVERS, Nigeria - Five months following the Rivers State Council election, the Supreme Court has dismissed 23 Local Government chairmen elected under the All People’s Party (APP), declaring the election null and void.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court invalidated the election held on October 5, 2024, citing violations of the nation's electoral act.
During Friday’s ruling, Justice Tukur deemed the actions of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission as null, pointing to significant non-compliance with the Electoral Act and its guidelines due to the commission's continuation of voter registration after announcing the election date.
He stated that the procedures leading to the local government election were significantly breached, violating Section 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Tukur indicated that the election was illegitimate because the Rivers State Electoral Commission failed to adhere to all necessary preliminary conditions.
Tukur’s decision has reversed the Court of Appeal's previous ruling, which had annulled the Federal High Court's decision to prevent the Rivers electoral body from holding the council election until an updated voter register was established.
It is worth noting that last year, Justice Peter Lifu had prohibited Governor Siminalayi Fubara from proceeding with the council election, emphasizing the necessity for an updated voter register prior to the elections.
