Court Halts INEC’s Release of Voter Register for Rivers LG Elections

In a recent development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order of interim injunction against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), preventing it from releasing the national voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

The court’s decision came after an application was made by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which alleged that INEC’s planned release of the voter register to RSIEC was in breach and violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

The APC, represented by a team of senior lawyers including Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), argued that INEC had failed to comply strictly with the provisions of the Electoral Act in respect of the management of the register of voters.

In granting the interim restraining orders, Justice Peter Lifu directed the APC to undertake to pay damages to the five defendants in case its suit was found to be frivolous and that the restraining orders ought not to have been granted in the first instance.

The interim orders are to remain in force pending the determination of the substantive suit in which the APC is challenging the propriety of the conduct of elections in Rivers local governments.

Justice Lifu also granted substituted service of the orders and other court processes on the five defendants through publications in two major national dailies before the adjourned date to attract the attention of the defendants.

The court’s decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some political analysts viewing it as a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, while others see it as a delay tactic by the APC.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has yet to issue a statement on the court’s decision, but it is expected that the commission will comply with the court’s orders.

The court’s decision comes at a crucial time, as the local government elections in Rivers State are scheduled to take place in the coming months. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the electoral process in the state and could set a precedent for future cases involving the release of voter registers.

As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes will be on the Federal High Court in Abuja as it continues to hear the substantive suit brought by the APC against INEC. The court’s final decision will determine whether INEC will be allowed to release the voter register to RSIEC for the conduct of the Rivers LG elections.