Just In: Court Gives Verdict on Case Challenging Rivers LGA Elections

• A Rivers State High Court has dismissed the case challenging the outcome of the August local council polls conducted in the state by Rivers state administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
• A Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Williams Stanley, dragged President Tinubu to court, challenging his decision to appoint Ibas, and on the other hand, is challenging Ibas for conducting the Rivers LGA election

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has thrown out a suit filed by a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Williams Stanley, challenging the just-concluded local government elections.

Case lacked merit – Court ruled

As reported by The Nation, the lawyer, Stanley, is challenging the legality of the appointments of the state’s sole administrator by President Tinubu and the administrator’s nominations of the chairman and members of RSIEC to conduct the August 30th Local Government Council election.

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In its verdict, the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, on Monday, September 15, ruled that the claimant lacked locus standi and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, stressing that only the Supreme Court can entertain such suits under the constitution.

Ruling further, Jumbo also held that the claimant was not able to show personal interest above public interest and as well as his civil rights and obligations that had been violated by the actions of the defendants.

The judge also ruled that the claimant failed to show sufficient proof of injury or threat to injury or hardship he would suffer if his questions as contained in his originating summons were answered.

Jumbo insisted that the interest the claimant sought to protect was not his personal interest but that of the governor of the state, a position he was not holding at the moment.

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Rivers LG polls constitutional – Court rules

On the conduct of the August 30th local government election, Justice Jumbo declared that the election was constitutional and legitimate.

The judge, who did not award any costs against the claimant, noted that the conduct of the LGA election was not done by the governor or sole administrator, but the RSIEC.

“I fulfilled Tinubu’s mandate” – Ibas declares

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Rivers State Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) declared that President Tinubu’s mandate to stabilise the state and restore democracy was achieved.

Ibas commended RSIEC for conducting transparent local government elections and promised a government review of the report, with a white paper to follow.

Read more about Rivers state here:

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Wike, Fubara shun Ibas’ farewell Thanksgiving service

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that all is set for the suspended governor of Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, to return to their elected position.

This is as Rivers’ sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, called on political actors in the state to prioritise the peace of the state over partisan politics.

In an interesting twist, Ibas held a Thanksgiving service to aid the transition to democratic governance in Rivers; however, FCT minister Nyesom Wike and Fubara were noticeably absent.

Source: Legit.ng