ABUJA – Honourable Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the opposition coalition in the National Assembly, has commended the ruling of the Federal High Court in Rivers State, which declared that the scheduled local government elections in Rivers State on October 5, 2024, must proceed as planned.
Delivering the judgment, Justice I.P.C. Igwe ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Rivers State Government, and the Governor of Rivers State are constitutionally obligated to ensure that local government elections take place.
The court ordered the relevant authorities to conduct the elections, in line with the Constitution and existing electoral laws, and ensure that local government councils are led by democratically elected representatives.
In his ruling on the suit Action Peoples Party (APP) vs. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the judge emphasized that the state government and RSIEC must adhere to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the existence of democratically elected local government councils. Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Attorney-General of the Federation vs. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Others, Justice Igwe directed the defendants to proceed with preparations and ensure that the elections are conducted without delay.
“Upon the construction of Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the councils are conducted by democratically elected officials,” Justice Igwe ruled.
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The court also ordered the use of the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections, compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct the elections in all 23 local government areas of Rivers State. Additionally, security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defense Corps, and the Nigerian Army, were directed to provide adequate security before, during, and after the election to ensure peace and order.
Reacting to the judgment during a media briefing in Abuja, Ugochinyere hailed the ruling as a victory for democracy, accusing pro-Wike lawmakers of attempting to thwart the process by seeking court injunctions to delay the polls.
He criticized former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for allegedly trying to halt the elections, stating that his efforts had failed.
According to the Lawmaker “This judgment is a significant victory for democracy, not only in Rivers State but across the nation. Minister Nyesom Wike’s attempts to stop the elections have been put to shame by this court ruling. We thank the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the local government elections in Rivers State will proceed as scheduled.”
He called on the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wake up and take proactive steps in restoring the party, especially as political actors in the state gear up for the elections.
The Rivers State local government elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024, and political campaigns are already in full swing.
