The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), the state government, and Governor Siminialayi Fubara to proceed with the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.
The directive came in response to a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against RISIEC, the state government, and Governor Fubara.
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In his ruling, Judge L.P.C Igwe affirmed that under Section 7(1) of the Constitution, the government and the governor were obligated to ensure that local government councils are run by democratically elected officials.
The court emphasized that, based on the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11, 2024, and the expiration of the term of the last democratically elected local councils in Rivers State on June 17, 2024, the election must be held without delay.
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RISIEC was also instructed to use the National Register of Voters from the 2023 general elections, which is already in RISIEC’s possession, to conduct the polls.
The court further reiterated that, following the Supreme Court’s decision, elections must be held within three months from the judgment, meaning the elections must take place by October 11, 2024.
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The court issued the following orders:
RISIEC, the state government, and Governor Fubara must make adequate provisions for the elections to ensure that local government affairs are run by democratically elected officials.
RISIEC is to conduct the local government elections on October 5, 2024, or any other date in accordance with its electoral guidelines.
The National Register of Voters from the 2023 general elections must be used for the conduct of the local elections.
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Adequate security must be provided during and after the election by the police, civil defense corps, military, and other relevant security agencies.
