A civil society organisation, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration (FREECON), has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking to halt the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
The defendants in the suit include President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Rivers State Sole Administrator, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its chairman.
FREECON is asking the court to issue an injunction restraining RSIEC from conducting the polls, making announcements, or distributing election materials pending the determination of the case. The group’s counsel, Lezina Amegua, argued that the matter would clarify whether the President can exercise gubernatorial powers in appointing RSIEC’s leadership under Sections 197 and 198 of the 1999 Constitution.
Defence counsel, Olumide Oluji, SAN, countered that some of the defendants had not been properly served and requested additional time. Justice Turaki Mohammed ordered that processes be served on the defendants’ counsel and adjourned the case until September 3.
