Court Blocks INEC from Providing Voters Register for Rivers Elections

ABUJA – Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday issued an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections in the state.

The order came after an ex parte application by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC, represented by a team of senior lawyers led by Joseph Daudu, filed the motion ex parte under the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024.

Justice Lifu’s ruling, grounded in Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act and several rules of court, also bars the Rivers Electoral Commission and the Rivers Attorney-General from receiving or using any part of the National Voter’s Register for the local government elections.

Additionally, the court instructed INEC, the Rivers State Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Department of State Services (DSS) to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking any further actions related to the elections.

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The court also prohibited the IGP and DSS from providing security for the elections. These interim orders will remain in force until the substantive suit, in which the APC challenges the conduct of the elections, is resolved.

Justice Lifu directed the APC to pay damages to the defendants if the suit is found to be frivolous. He also approved substituted service of the orders and other court processes on the defendants through publication in two national newspapers.

The court adjourned the case to August 2 for the defendants to appear and address the substantive matter.

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