Dare Babalola
Five indigenes of Rivers state have dragged the state sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and the federal government to court to stop the planned local government area election in the state.
The plaintiffs: Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo and Comfort Agbom, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit filed through their counsel, Sunday Ezema, the indigenes sought a judicial interpretation on whether local government elections can be lawfully conducted during a state of emergency.
The plaintiffs argued that Ibas cannot hold a valid and lawful local government election in the state since he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu only as a sole administrator pending when the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara will be over.
They argued that the president is yet to revoke the declaration of a state of emergency and that the planned LGA election is unlawful.
They asked the court to issue an order halting the conduct of the elections on August 30, 2025, or any other date during the period of the state of emergency.
“A declaration that the clear and present danger or imminent breakdown of public order and public safety and looming crises in Rivers which led to the proclamation of a state of emergency on March 18, has not abated, and that the proclamation remains in effect until at least six months after that date,” a part of the suit reads.
“A declaration that the Rivers government, the sole administrator, and RSIEC cannot lawfully conduct local government council elections during the subsistence or pendency of the state of emergency.
“A declaration that any local government council elections conducted on Aug. 30 or any date within the emergency period, are illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”
Recall that the RSIEC had announced on July 28 that the LG elections in Rivers would be held on August 30.
