Court Restrains INEC From Releasing Voters Register For Rivers LG Polls

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction on Friday, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections in the state.

This order was issued in response to an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), with senior lawyers led by Joseph Daudu representing the party. The motion, related to suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, was based on Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act, Order 26 Rules 1 and 3, Order 28 Rules 1 and 2, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court as outlined in Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

Besides the restraining order on INEC, the court also prohibited the Rivers Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of Rivers State from receiving or using any part of the National Voter’s Register for conducting local government elections in Rivers State.

Furthermore, Justice Lifu ordered INEC, the Rivers State Electoral Commission, the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Department of State Service (DSS) to maintain the status quo and refrain from any actions related to the local government elections in Rivers State. The IGP and DSS were also specifically barred from participating in or providing security for the elections.

These interim orders will remain in effect until the substantive suit, where the APC challenges the legality of the elections, is resolved.

Additionally, Justice Lifu directed the APC to undertake the payment of damages to the defendants if the suit is found to be frivolous. He also approved the substituted service of the court orders and other processes on the defendants through publications in two major national newspapers.

The court has adjourned the matter to August 2, for the defendants to appear and address the substantive issues.

In a 13-paragraph affidavit by Tony Okocha, acting Chairman of the Rivers APC, it was asserted that the suit arose due to INEC’s failure to comply with the Electoral Act regarding the management of the voter register. The APC argues that only INEC is authorized to compile, maintain, and update the voter register, which RSIEC should use for conducting local government elections.

 

Independent

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