The Supreme Court of Nigeria has set February 10, 2025, as the hearing date for two appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the validity of the 2024 local government elections in Rivers State. Additionally, the apex court will hear five other cases tied to the ongoing political crisis in the state on the same day.
The political turmoil in Rivers State began in October 2023 when tensions erupted between factions loyal to former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike’s loyalists attempted to impeach Fubara, prompting the governor to seal off the state Assembly complex in retaliation.
The standoff led to a split within the Assembly. A faction of lawmakers declared their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, while Fubara rejected their legitimacy and instead worked with a three-member Assembly. The legality of this smaller Assembly became contentious, particularly regarding its passage of the 2024 budget and the screening of commissioner-nominees.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) scheduled local government elections for October 5, 2024. However, this decision faced opposition. The APC, citing bills passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly that extended the tenure of local government chairmen, took RSIEC to court.
The APC faction loyal to Wike boycotted the elections, while the faction aligned with former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi participated. Similarly, the Wike-aligned PDP also refrained from contesting. Meanwhile, Fubara’s loyalists defected to the Action People’s Party (APP) to contest the elections, which the APP eventually swept, winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja initially restrained RSIEC from using voter registers provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and barred security agencies from participating in the elections. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned the ruling, declaring that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction.
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Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, the APC filed two appeals at the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate the earlier ruling by the Federal High Court. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Ogwu Onoja (SAN) represented the APC, while Chris Uche (SAN) led the legal team for the respondents.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, consolidated four appeals related to the crisis for easier determination. These cases involve the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Government, RSIEC, and other parties. Justice Aba-Aji directed all parties to file and exchange their arguments ahead of the February 10 hearing.
In addition to these appeals, the Supreme Court will hear another case, SC/CV/1071A/2024, on the same day, following the withdrawal of a cross-appeal filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly against the National Assembly.
The February 10 hearings are expected to address critical questions about the legitimacy of the 2024 local government elections, the actions of the Rivers State Assembly, and the broader implications of the ongoing political crisis in the state. Legal observers and political stakeholders are closely watching the proceedings, which could have significant ramifications for governance in Rivers State.
Justice Aba-Aji assured all parties of a fair and timely resolution, stating, “The court will give these matters the attention they deserve to ensure justice is served.”