Rivers Election: Court Reserves Judgment In APC’s Suit Against INEC, Others

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed its judgement regarding the lawsuit initiated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concerning the local government elections in Rivers State.

Naija News reports that Justice Peter Lifu, on Thursday (today), indicated that a date for the ruling would be communicated to the involved parties.

At today’s court session, the judge reserved the judgment date after legal representatives for all parties presented their arguments for and against the case.

During the proceedings, the court considered all outstanding preliminary applications, including those for joinder submitted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Boot Party (BP), alongside the main suit.

The court also reviewed motions filed by Chief Goddy Uche, SAN, regarding a change of counsel and another motion seeking to discontinue the suit on behalf of the APC’s Rivers State chapter.

Uche submitted and argued an application for a change of counsel dated August 28, as well as a motion for discontinuance signed by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of APC Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, Secretary of APC Rivers State.

Meanwhile, Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading a team of six Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Dr. James Ogwu Onoja, urged the court to grant the reliefs requested by the plaintiff.

In contrast, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, representing the Attorney General of Rivers State, and Femi Falana, SAN, who appeared for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), contested the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The counsel for the respondents also questioned the suit’s validity, arguing that it was barred by statute.

In addition, concerning jurisdiction, the counsel for the respondents argued that the appropriate venue for this case is the Rivers State division of the Federal High Court.

They further claimed that the court, when functioning as a vacation court, does not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter without both parties’ agreement.

In essence, the counsel for the plaintiff contended that the conditions for conducting local government elections in Rivers State had not been fulfilled by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The plaintiff applied a change of counsel dated August 28, along with a notice of discontinuance, which was signed by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, Secretary of the APC in Rivers State.

The party, in an originating summons designated FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, is seeking a declaration that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is obligated to manage the updating and revision of the electoral register in such a way that the process is completed no later than 90 days prior to the council election.