A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit challenging the conduct of the August 30 local government council election in the state.
The suit was filed by Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Williams Abayomi Stanley, against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its Chairman.
Stanley had argued that President Tinubu’s appointment of a State Sole Administrator, who subsequently nominated the RSIEC Chairman and members to conduct the election, was unlawful.
However, presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. He explained that under the constitution, only the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain such matters during an emergency rule.
Justice Jumbo further held that the claimant lacked locus standi, noting that Stanley failed to establish a personal interest or show any violation of his civil rights and obligations beyond general public interest.
