• No idiot can stop the election – Fubara
A significant setback has struck the Rivers State local government election scheduled for October 5, 2024, as a Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an injunction stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
According to Daily Post, Justice Peter Lifu’s ruling delivered on Monday, September 30, 2024, also prohibited the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a suit challenging the legality of the election, arguing that RSIEC failed to comply with relevant laws guiding the electoral process. A team of senior lawyers, including Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), represented the APC.
The court’s decision centered on RSIEC’s failure to publish the mandatory 90-day notice before fixing the election date, violating provisions of the local government election conduct law. Additionally, the update and revision of the voters’ register ought to have been concluded before setting an election date.
Justice Lifu ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC until all legal requirements are met. Furthermore, RSIEC was barred from accepting or using any voters’ register from INEC for the October 5 poll.
This development throws the Rivers local government election into uncertainty, leaving political stakeholders and voters in limbo. The APC’s legal challenge highlights concerns about the electoral process’s integrity and compliance with established laws.
Meanwhile, the state governor has declared that no “idiot” will stop the October 5, local government election.
He made the declaration before RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd) and other officials of the commission during his visit to ascertain their preparedness for the election.
Fubara told RSIEC to report to him any attempt by anyone or group to disrupt the forthcoming council poll.
The governor reaffirmed his stance that the LG poll will hold on Saturday, October 5, when he addressed journalists during his inspection of road project on Monday.
Governor Fubara: “Our election will hold on 5th of October. I am aware that RSIEC told me that they already had an order mandating them to conduct the election on the 5th of October and security agencies to support them. So I think with that order, the election will hold.
“I might not be a lawyer; but, I know there is what is first-in-hand. And since they have first-in-hand, we will give them the necessary support for the election to be conducted. And it would be one of the best elections ever held in Rivers State.”