Supreme Court Declares Rivers LG Election Invalid, Dismisses Governor Fubara’s Appeals Against Amaewhule

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed all local government chairmen in Rivers State, ruling that the October 2024 election was invalid. Ruling on Friday, February 28, Justice Jamilu Tukur stated that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) violated the Electoral Act by continuing voter registration after announcing the election date.

Two days before the local council elections, Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State broadcasted that the elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, would be held. This came after the camp of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had declared a few hours earlier that the election would not take place. Fubara had directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State.

The Supreme Court has declared the election void, citing non-compliance with legal requirements. The apex court overturned the judgment of the Court of Appeal and upheld that of the high court. Earlier, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued an order restraining the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission from proceeding with the local government elections, citing the necessity of an updated voter register before the polls could be held.

In a separate ruling on Friday, the court also dismissed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal against the Rivers State House of Assembly under Speaker Martin Amaewhule. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye upheld Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker and ordered him to resume duties immediately.

The court criticised Fubara for presenting the 2024 budget to a four-member Assembly instead of the whole House led by Amaewhule. It stated that this denied 28 constituencies representation and described his actions as “dictatorship and brigandage.” It also condemned the demolition of the Assembly complex and labelled it an abuse of power meant to silence lawmakers.

Due to the state government’s disobedience to court orders, the Supreme Court barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies from releasing funds to Rivers State until it complies.

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