Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Rivers LG Election, Declares Polls Legitimate

|By Chinwendu Nwani

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the legality of the August 30 local government council election in the state.

The suit, filed by Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Williams Abayomi Stanley, dragged President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its chairman before the court. Stanley argued that President Tinubu’s appointment of a Sole Administrator, who later nominated RSIEC officials to oversee the polls, was unconstitutional.

Delivering judgment, Justice Stephen Jumbo struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction and locus standi. The judge ruled that only the Supreme Court can hear such cases under emergency rule and faulted the claimant for failing to show any personal interest or civil right affected by the defendants’ actions.

Justice Jumbo further held that Stanley neither proved any injury nor demonstrated hardship arising from the election. He emphasized that the claimant sought to defend the interest of the Rivers State governor—a role not assigned to him. The court also affirmed the August 30 polls as constitutional, stressing that RSIEC, not the governor or the Sole Administrator, conducted the exercise.

Although the ruling went in favour of the defendants, no cost was awarded against Stanley.

Outside the courtroom, claimant’s counsel, Godsent Elewa, hinted at a possible appeal. He maintained that while he respected the ruling, he disagreed with aspects of the judgment, particularly on locus standi and jurisdiction.

In contrast, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday John Otokwala, welcomed the judgment, insisting it aligns with the law governing the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State.