The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a ruling by a Federal High Court in the nation’s capital that had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of local government elections.
The initial ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court on September 30, had also restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies from providing security during the polls.
However, in a judgment delivered by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, who led the appellate court’s special panel, the Court of Appeal nullified the high court’s decision. Justice Otisi ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, adding that the case should not have been brought before the lower court in the first place.
“The court cannot adjudicate over issues relating to local government elections,” Justice Otisi stated during the ruling.
The appellate court consequently set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment, clearing the way for the Rivers State local government council election, which was held on October 5.
Following the election, Adolphus Enebeli, Chairman of RSIEC, announced that the Action Peoples Party (APP) had emerged victorious in 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state.
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