Rivers LGC election should proceed – Court rules

Rivers State High Court of Justice sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled that the State Local Government Council election slated for 30th August, 2025 should proceed as planned, saying that conducting the election by the State Independent Electoral Commission was not in breach of law.

The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo in his ruling dismissed a motion seeking to halt the exercise for lacking in merit.

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Earlier, a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner, Stanley Abayomi filed a motion seeking Court’s order to stop the election. He also sought for the Court approval for a substituted service to the defendants and adjourned the substantive case to September 10, 2025.

In the suit, Barrister Abayomi was challenging the legality of the appointment of the Chairman and members of the State Electoral Commission, citing the relevant sections of the law that set up the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

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Speaking after the sitting, counsel to the claimant, Godsent Elewa, expressed satisfaction that one of his motions was granted and pledged readiness to continue with the matter on the adjourned date.

Meanwhile, in a separate suit, a former APC House of Assembly candidate, Chima Nnokam, alongside four others, has asked the court to declare the August 30 elections unconstitutional.

In the originating summons, filed against RSIEC, the Rivers State Attorney General, and two financial institutions, argues that the newly appointed RSIEC chairman and members were unlawfully installed and therefore lack the authority to conduct elections.

The claimants are also seeking an injunction restraining financial institutions from releasing funds to RSIEC, as well as a declaration setting aside all actions taken by the current chairman, Mr. Michael Odey, including the revised election timetable.

Additionally, they want the court to reinstate Justice Adolphus Enebeli and his team as the legitimate RSIEC leadership until their tenure expires. Their prayers include multiple declarations nullifying the current commission’s appointments and restraining the defendants from parading themselves as members of RSIEC.

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