Supreme Court Sacks All Rivers LG Chairmen, Declares LG Election Invalid

Supreme Court has sacked all Rivers LG Chairmen.

Epe Insights reports that the Supreme Court has declared the Rivers State Local Government elections held on October 5, 2024, invalid.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur on Friday, February 28, 2025, ruled that the conduct of the local government polls in the state was null and void.

The Supreme Court in its decision, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had overturned the trial court’s ruling on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court consequently restored the decision of the Federal High Court.

Epe Insights that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu had earlier restrained the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission from proceeding with the local government elections, citing the need for an updated voter register before the polls could be conducted.

Justice Lifu further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to release the updated voter register to the Rivers electoral commission to facilitate the election.

The trial court thereafter barred the police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies from providing security for voters during the election.