The Supreme Court on Friday invalidated the October 5, 2024, local government elections in Rivers State, declaring them illegal, null, and void. The election, which was won by the All Peoples Party (APP), was annulled on the grounds of gross legal violations.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) failed to meet the necessary legal conditions outlined in Section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022. The apex court held that the failure to adhere to these conditions rendered the election illegitimate.
The ruling aligns with an earlier decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which, on September 30, 2024, barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC for the election. The court also prohibited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the polls.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the Federal High Court ruling, faulted RSIEC for scheduling the election without complying with legal requirements, including the mandatory 90-day notice before the polls. He further ruled that the voter register update and revision must be completed before an election date could be legally set.
Consequently, INEC was ordered not to provide RSIEC with the certified voter register until full compliance with the law was ensured. RSIEC was also barred from accepting or using any voter register for the annulled election.
This Supreme Court ruling reinforces the necessity of strict adherence to electoral laws and underscores the judiciary’s role in upholding democratic integrity.
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