In preparation for the local government election in Rivers State on October 5, 2024, an Abuja-based court has prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the 2023 voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
This decision follows an order from a high court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, which mandated that RSIEC conduct the upcoming local government elections using the 2023 voters’ register.
Justice I. Igwe of the High Court issued this order on September 4, 2024, in response to a case brought by the Action People’s Party (APP) against the State Electoral umpire, the Rivers State Government, and the Governor of Rivers State.
On Monday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled to prevent INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC for the October 5, 2024, local government elections.
The court also barred the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the elections.
Justice Lifu issued this order while delivering judgment in a case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Lifu held that the Rivers State Electoral Commission was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the poll into the 23 local governments when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.
Among others, the Judge held that the failure of Rivers’ Electoral body violated a provision of local governments’ election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.
Justice Peter Lifu also held that the update and revision of voters’ register ought to have been concluded before an election date conduct be legally and validity fixed in law.
The Judge therefore ordered INEC not to make the certified voter register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.
Justice Peter Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting any voter register from INEC or using it for the October 5 local government poll