Five Rivers indigenes sue sole administrator, ask court to stop LGA election

Five indigenes of Rivers state have asked the court to stop the conduct of the forthcoming local government area election in the state.

The plaintiffs in the case are Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo and Comfort Agbom.

The respondents are sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and the federal government.

The suit was filed at the federal high court in Abuja.

In the suit filed through their counsel, Sunday Ezema, the indigenes sought a judicial interpretation on whether local government elections can be lawfully conducted during a state of emergency.

The plaintiffs said since President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state in March, a valid and lawful local government election cannot be held in such circumstances.

They argued that the president is yet to revoke the declaration and that the planned LGA election is unlawful.

They asked the court to issue an order halting the conduct of the elections on August 30, 2025 or any other date during the period of the state of emergency.

“A declaration that the clear and present danger or imminent breakdown of public order and public safety and looming crises in Rivers which led to the proclamation of a state of emergency on March 18, has not abated, and that the proclamation remains in effect until at least six months after that date,” a part of the suit reads.

“A declaration that the Rivers government, the sole administrator, and RSIEC cannot lawfully conduct local government council elections during the subsistence or pendency of the state of emergency.

“A declaration that any local government council elections conducted on Aug. 30 or any date within the emergency period, are illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

On July 28, the RSIEC announced August 30 as the date for the LG elections in the state.

Recently, Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVCSO) called for a boycott of the poll.

The group said the sole administrator of Rivers lacks the legitimacy to govern or conduct the elections.