Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, again stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the October 5, 2024 local council elections in the state.
 
The court also barred the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of the State Service (DSS) from providing security. Justice Lifu issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
 
The suit was argued on behalf of the APC by a team of senior lawyers comprising Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja. Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the polls when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.

MEANWHILE, the Action Peoples Party (APP) has rejected the judgment, urging members of the party and voters to come out en masse on Saturday to participate in the election, adding that the state is already empowered by the judgment of the High Court in Rivers State to go on with the election.
  
The APP National Chairman, Uchenna Nnadi, in a press briefing in Port Harcourt, criticised the judgment as “judicial rascality,” citing contradictions with the judge’s previous ruling on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) state leadership rights.
  
Nnadi noted that Justice Lifu had previously ruled that the state leadership of the PDP has the right to present legal representation on issues within the party in the state. However, in a matter brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the judge contradicted himself, ruling that the APC in the state is not a legal entity and cannot present a representative in court.
  
The APP chairman argued that the court’s conflicting decisions undermine its credibility, stating: “The same court cannot speak from both sides of its mouth.” It stressed that a judgment that contradicts itself cannot stand.

Also, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has assured that the election will be held as scheduled, stating that no encumbrance is known to law to stop the process. The governor urged political parties and candidates contesting for various positions in the election and the electorate to be enthusiastic, as they prepare to vote for their preferred candidates that will become the new political leaders at the council level.
   
Fubara gave the assurance shortly after an inspection tour of some sections of the 12.5km Trans-Kalabari Road project yesterday. Addressing RSIEC staff, the governor said he has been inundated with rumours of plans by some misguided fellows to disrupt activities at the commission, warning such persons to retrace their steps.