28
Feb
Feb
SUPREME COURT SACKS RIVERS STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN, BARS STATE FROM RECEIVING ALLOCATIONS
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 months
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- 2 min read
The Supreme Court has declared the local government election conducted on October 5, 2024, in Rivers State invalid due to gross violations of the Electoral Act. In a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court declared the election invalid, stating that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission continued voter registration even after announcing an election date, which is a clear violation of the Electoral Act and guidelines. Justice Tukur said, “The action of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is declared void for lack of substantial compliance to the Electoral Act and guidelines.” The court held that processes leading to the conduct of a local government election were abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act. In another judgment, the Supreme Court barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State until the state government complies with a court order. The court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members of the house to resume sitting. The Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers Assembly is loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The court’s decision is seen as a significant blow to the Rivers State government, which has been embroiled in a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike.
