A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the August 30 local government elections overseen by Sole Administrator Desmond Ibas.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction, stressing that only the Supreme Court can determine such matters under emergency rule. He further held that the claimant, lawyer Williams Stanley, lacked the locus standi to institute the action, as he failed to show any personal interest or infringement of rights.
The polls, which had sparked controversy over the constitutional powers of an administrator to supervise elections, were upheld as valid and constitutional, since they were conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), not directly by the administrator.
The case had listed President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Sole Administrator, RSIEC, and its chairman as defendants. Stanley had argued that Ibas’ appointment and his nomination of the RSIEC leadership were unconstitutional.
Justice Jumbo however affirmed the legitimacy of the elections and declined to award costs against the claimant.
This ruling comes just days before the expiration of Ibas’ six-month mandate, which began in March when President Tinubu imposed emergency rule in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the House of Assembly.
