The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday nullified the Rivers State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024, declaring them invalid.
A five-member panel of the apex court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, ruled that the local government polls were unconstitutional and could not stand. The court set aside the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which had overturned the trial court’s decision on jurisdictional grounds, effectively restoring the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The case originated from a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had barred the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) from proceeding with the elections. The trial court emphasized the need for an updated voter register before conducting any polls.
The Supreme Court also upheld the Federal High Court’s directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release an updated voter register to the Rivers electoral commission for proper election preparations. Additionally, the ruling prohibited the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies from providing security during the disputed election.
