Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections.
The interim injunction follows an ex-parte motion filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team under Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act and relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Lifu’s ruling also bars the Rivers Electoral Commission and the Rivers Attorney-General from receiving or utilizing any part of the National Voter Register from INEC for the local elections. Additionally, it prohibits the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from involvement in or providing security for the local elections in Rivers State.
The judge has directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, preventing any actions that would advance the conduct of the local elections until the substantive suit is resolved. These interim orders will remain in effect pending the APC’s challenge concerning the propriety of the elections.
Furthermore, the APC has been instructed to compensate the defendants should the court find the lawsuit frivolous. Justice Lifu has also approved substituted service of the court orders and processes through publication in two national newspapers to ensure the defendants are duly notified.
A hearing for the substantive matter is scheduled for August 2, where all defendants are required to appear in court. In an accompanying affidavit, Tony Okocha, acting Chairman of Rivers APC, argued that INEC failed to adhere to the Electoral Act in managing the voter register intended for use by the Rivers electoral body. He emphasized that only the voter register compiled and maintained by INEC is suitable for local government polls.
Okocha further affirmed that the APC’s legal action aims to safeguard the integrity of the case by preventing any alteration of the voter register. He also confirmed the APC’s commitment to compensating for damages if the restraining order is deemed unjustified.
The defendants are slated to present their responses in court on August 2.
