Nigeria’s Supreme Court has nullified the local government election conducted on the 5th of October 2024 by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court declared the election invalid for grossly violating the Electoral Act.
Reading the judgement, Justice Tukur said the action of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is declared void for lack of substantial compliance to the Electoral Act and guidelines as the electoral body continued voter registration even after announcing an election date.
The court held that processes leading to the conduct of a local government election were abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act.
The court had earlier barred the Central Bank of Nigeria from releasing funds to Rivers State until the Martins Amaewhule led House of Assembly is duly constituted.
Amaewhule leads the faction of Rivers State House Assembly loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike who has engaged Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara in a bitter contest over control of the state.
