Court Reserves Judgment in APC’s Suit Against INEC Over Rivers LG Elections

The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in APC’s suit against INEC, challenging the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State. Justice Peter Lifu announced that the court would notify all parties once a judgment date is set. The ruling was postponed after counsel for all parties presented their legal arguments.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the court reviewed multiple pending applications, including joinder requests from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Boot Party (BP), as well as the substantive suit. Additionally, motions were filed by Chief Goddy Uche, SAN, on behalf of the Rivers APC for a change of counsel and for the discontinuation of the case.

Uche filed an application dated August 28 seeking a change of counsel, accompanied by a motion for discontinuance signed by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of APC Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, Secretary of the party.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading a team of six senior advocates, urged the court to grant the relief sought by the plaintiff. However, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, representing the Attorney General of Rivers State, along with Femi Falana, SAN, representing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), contested the court’s jurisdiction.

The defense argued that the Federal High Court in Rivers State was the proper venue for the case. They also claimed that the suit was statute-barred, questioning whether the court, sitting as a vacation court, had the authority to proceed without the consent of both parties.

In response, the plaintiff maintained that RSIEC had not met the necessary conditions for conducting the local government elections in Rivers State.

APC’s originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, seeks a declaration that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must manage the electoral process, including updating the voters’ register, ensuring that this is completed at least 90 days before the local elections.