Appeal Court overturns Federal High Court’s judgment on Rivers LG elections

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the Federal High Court judgment that sought to stop the Rivers State Local Government election conducted on October 5, 2024.

The three-man panel of the appellate court, in its judgment, ruled that the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu lacked the subject-matter jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the 1st respondent, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Consequently, the Appeal Court set aside the orders issued by the lower court, declaring them invalid due to the lack of jurisdiction.

The Federal High Court had, before the conduct of the local government elections, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

It also barred the Nigeria Police and other security agencies from providing security for the elections.

Tony Okocha, the dismissed caretaker committee chairman of the APC in Rivers State, had challenged the conduct of the election, citing unresolved cases related to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also chose not to participate in the election.

The Action Peoples Party, APP emerged victorious in 22 out of 23 local government areas during the election.