Court Reserves Judgment in APC’s Legal Challenge Against INEC Over Rivers LG Election

The Federal High Court has reserved its judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), contesting the conduct of the upcoming local government election in Rivers State. Justice Peter Lifu, presiding over the case, deferred the judgment to a later date, which will be communicated to all parties involved.

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel for both sides adopted their written arguments for and against the case. The court also addressed various preliminary applications, including motions for joinder by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Boot Party (BP), as well as the substantive suit.

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A notable development was the motion filed by Chief Goddy Uche, SAN, representing the Rivers State APC. Uche requested a change of counsel, dated August 28, and sought the discontinuance of the suit on behalf of the party, as endorsed by Chief Emeka Beke, APC Chairman in Rivers State, and Sam Sam Etetegwung, APC Secretary.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel for the plaintiff, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought by the APC. However, the Attorney General of Rivers State, represented by Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, and Femi Falana, SAN, representing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. They argued that the suit was statute-barred and that the Rivers State division of the Federal High Court had jurisdiction. Additionally, the respondents contended that the court lacked authority as a vacation court to proceed without both parties’ consent.

The APC’s suit, filed under originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, seeks a declaration that INEC must manage and update the voter register 90 days before the local government election, claiming that the conditions for the election had not been met.

For more details, refer to the original source: Nigerian Tribune.