Court stops INEC from releasing voters’ register

The Federal High Court in Abuja has once more halted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government election in the state on October 5, 2024.

The court additionally prohibited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from offering security services for the said election.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order during his delivery of judgment in a lawsuit filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the court proceedings.

The case was presented on behalf of the APC by a group of experienced senior lawyers, including Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon, and Ogwu James Onoja, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the poll when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.

Among others, the judge held that the Rivers State electoral body violated provisions of the local government election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.

Justice Peter Lifu also held that the update and revision of voters’ register ought to have been concluded before an election date can be legally and validity fixed in law.

The judge therefore ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.

Justice Peter Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting any voters’ register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5 local governments poll.