Nigerians have expressed strong condemnation against Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the senior lawyers who filed a case seeking to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the recently conducted local government elections held on 5 October 2024.
The case, brought before the court by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has been met with widespread criticism from the public. Many have questioned the motives behind the lawsuit and the decision of the court to grant the orders despite the legal requirements and responsibilities of the police in providing security during elections.
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.
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. Their involvement in the case has also drawn criticism from the public, with many accusing them of using their legal expertise to undermine the democratic process.
Nigerians have expressed their disappointment in the court’s decision to grant orders that appear to hinder the conduct of free and fair elections. They have also called into question the court’s understanding of the responsibilities of the police in providing security during elections, as mandated by law.
The court’s orders barring the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the election have raised concerns about the potential impact on the safety and integrity of the electoral process.
As the controversy surrounding the case continues to unfold, Nigerians remain vocal in their condemnation of the actions taken by the judge and the senior lawyers involved. Many are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that the democratic process is upheld and that the will of the people is respected.