A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the case brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the conduct of the local government election in Rivers State.
Justice Peter Lifu indicated that the court would communicate a date for the judgment after hearing arguments from both sides. The APC is seeking a ruling that INEC must comply with constitutional and electoral regulations before releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The APC argues that INEC should halt continuous voter registration at least 90 days before the election. They claim that RSIEC has not met the necessary conditions for conducting the local government elections.
During the hearing, preliminary applications and motions were considered, including those seeking joinder from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Boot Party. Goddy Uche, SAN, representing the APC’s Rivers chapter, sought a change of counsel and discontinuance of the suit, while Joseph Daudu, SAN, advocated for the plaintiff’s reliefs.
Counsel for the Attorney General of Rivers, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, and INEC’s representative, Femi Falana, SAN, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the suit, arguing it was statute-barred and should be heard by the Rivers division of the Federal High Court. Justice Lifu has reserved judgment following these proceedings.
