A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a decisive ruling preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters' register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government election scheduled for October 5, 2024. The ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which challenged the legality of the election's preparations.
Justice Peter Lifu, presiding over the case, not only stopped INEC from providing the voters’ register but also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from offering any security support for the election. In his ruling, Justice Lifu emphasized that RSIEC had failed to meet the necessary legal requirements, particularly the mandated 90-day notice period prior to any election.
Moreover, the court highlighted that the voters' register should have been fully updated and revised before a valid election date could be established. Given these lapses, Justice Lifu declared that the election could not proceed until all legal conditions are satisfied, effectively halting preparations for the Rivers local government polls.
The ruling has sent ripples through the political landscape in Rivers State, as stakeholders now await further developments and possible resolutions to the legal impasse.
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