An Appellate court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the Rivers State Local Government elections conducted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of local government elections.
The initial ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court on September 30, had also restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies from providing security during the polls.
Meanwhile, in a judgment delivered by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, who led the appellate court’s special panel, the Court of Appeal voided the high court’s decision.
Justice Otisi ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, adding that the case should not have been brought before the lower court in the first place.
The election, which took place weeks ago, saw the pro-Fubara Action Peoples Party (APP) emerged victorious in 22 of the 23 local government areas.
This judgment effectively reinstates the validity of the Rivers State local government election, nullifying the earlier ruling that sought to challenge its legitimacy.