The Supreme Court has scheduled February 10, 2025, to hear two suits filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the validity of the local government elections held in Rivers State in 2024. The same date is set to hear five other cases relating to the ongoing political crisis in the state, which began in October 2023 following an attempt by a faction loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This crisis has seen disputes over the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly, with a three-member assembly being engaged by Fubara, while Wike’s faction declared its defection to the APC. Legal battles over this matter have been heard at various courts, including the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.
The local government election was initially scheduled for October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), but the APC challenged the process, claiming violations of the state House of Assembly’s bills extending the tenure of the LG chairmen. Although the Wike-loyal APC faction withdrew from the election, the faction loyal to former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi participated, as did the Action People’s Party (APP), which won 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats in the state.
The APC’s appeal stems from a ruling by the Court of Appeal that overturned a Federal High Court decision which had barred the election. The APC is seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to reinstate the earlier court decision, arguing that RSIEC did not follow the correct procedures for conducting the election.
The Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, has consolidated four appeals related to the crisis and directed both parties to file and exchange briefs before the hearing. Additionally, the court will hear another related case on the same day.
