LGA Poll: Police takeover headquarters of Rivers state electoral commission
Ahead of the Octber 5, 2024, scheduled local government election in Rivers State, the Nigeria Police Command in the State on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, took over and sealed the premises of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) headquarters.
This development might be as a result of an injunction issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which ordered the suspension of all electoral activities in the state.
The court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 5 October 2024, and also prohibited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing any form of security or participation in the election process on October 5, 2024.
Justice Lifu, who issued the order on Monday while delivering judgment on a suit brought before the court by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, lampooned RSIEC for setting 5 October as the election date without adhering to the relevant laws governing the conduct of the election.
The court held that the RSIEC violated the provisions of the local government election law by failing to publish the mandatory 90-day notice before fixing the election date.
Justic Lifu held that the updating and revision of the voters’ register should have been completed before a valid date was set for the election and therefore ordered INEC not to release the certified voters’ register to RSIEC until all legal requirements are met.
The court also barred RSIEC from accepting or using any voters’ register from INEC for the purpose of the October 5 local government election.
The trial judge directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any further steps in relation to the election until the substantive suit is heard and determined.
Photos from the scene show a heavy police presence around the RSIEC offices, with officers ensuring that no activities take place on the premises.