Electoral Violations Cited

The elections, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), failed to meet essential conditions. The court found that RSIEC did not publish the mandatory 90-day notice before setting the election date. Additionally, voter registration continued after announcing the election date, rendering the process flawed.

Alignment with Federal High Court Ruling

The Supreme Court’s verdict supports an earlier Federal High Court ruling. On September 30, 2024, the Federal High Court barred INEC from releasing the voter register to RSIEC. Justice Peter Lifu stressed that the voter register update must be completed before setting an election date.

Implications for Rivers State Governance

The Supreme Court directed the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt fund releases to the Rivers State Government. This measure will remain until the Rivers House of Assembly is properly constituted. The court affirmed the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly members as legitimate lawmakers.

The court also fined Governor Fubara ₦5 million for presenting the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly. This action violated constitutional requirements.

Precedent for Future Elections

The nullification of the Rivers LG elections highlights the importance of electoral integrity. It sets a precedent for future elections, emphasizing the need for transparency and compliance with electoral guidelines.

Stakeholders will likely scrutinize the electoral process more closely. The Rivers State Government must address the court’s concerns promptly to restore public confidence.