Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has once again barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 5 October 2024.
Justice Lifu issued the order on Monday while delivering judgment on a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu criticised RSIEC for setting 5 October as the election date without adhering to the relevant laws governing the conduct of the election. He ruled that the Rivers State electoral body violated the provisions of the local government election law by failing to publish the mandatory 90-day notice before fixing the election date.
The judge further held that the updating and revision of the voters’ register should have been completed before a legally valid election date could be set. He consequently ordered INEC not to release the certified voters’ register to RSIEC until all legal requirements had been met.
Justice Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting or using any voters’ register from INEC for the purpose of the October 5 local government election. Additionally, the court prohibited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the election.
The APC’s legal team, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, argued the suit on behalf of the party.
It is worth recalling that on 19 July, Justice Lifu, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the APC, initially issued an order restraining INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC. He also restrained the IGP and DSS from participating or providing security for the RSIEC in conducting the election.
The judge directed all parties involved to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any further steps in relation to the election until the substantive suit is heard and determined.