Rivers indigenes sue FG, RSIEC to halt LG poll

Five Rivers State indigenes have dragged the Federal Government, the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop the planned local government elections slated for August 30.

The plaintiffs — Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo, and Comfort Agbom — argue that the elections cannot lawfully be held while the state remains under a state of emergency.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1144/2025 and filed through their counsel, Mr. Sunday Ezema, they are asking the court to interpret whether local government polls can be conducted during the subsistence of such an emergency.

They cited President Bola Tinubu’s State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation 2025, which declared “a clear and present danger” of an imminent breakdown of public order, peace, and security.

According to them, the proclamation has neither been revoked nor suspended, meaning the emergency remains in force.

The plaintiffs contend that holding elections in such conditions would endanger voters and undermine the integrity of the process, noting that public order and safety are not guaranteed.

They also recalled that the last local government elections under former Governor Siminalayi Fubara were nullified by the courts due to irregularities, and warned that similar legal issues could arise again.

Their prayers include a court order halting the August 30 polls or any elections during the emergency period, and a declaration that any elections conducted within this timeframe are “illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

They further want the court to affirm that the state of emergency remains effective until at least six months after its proclamation on March 18, 2025.

The case, filed on August 11, is yet to be assigned to a judge.