Rivers Court Dismiss Suit Challenging Emergency Rule, LG Elections

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Williams Abayomi Stanley, against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its chairman over the recent local government council elections in the state.

Stanley questioned the legality of President Tinubu’s appointment of a sole administrator, who subsequently nominated the RSIEC chairman and members that oversaw the August 30 local government elections.

In his ruling, Justice Stephen Jumbo held that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, stressing that under the Constitution, only the Supreme Court has exclusive authority to hear matters relating to emergency rule. The judge also declared that Stanley lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit, as he failed to demonstrate any personal interest, civil rights, or obligations affected by the actions of the defendants.

Justice Jumbo further ruled that the August 30 elections were constitutionally valid and legitimately conducted by RSIEC, not by the governor or the sole administrator, as claimed. He declined to award costs against the claimant after ruling in favor of the defendants.

Speaking after the judgment, the claimant’s counsel, Godsent Elewa, said he would advise his client to consider appealing the ruling, stating that while he respected the court’s decision, he disagreed with certain aspects.

On the other hand, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was a defendant in the suit, Monday John Otokwala, described the judgment as a correct interpretation of the law concerning the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State.