The Special Court of Appeal Panel handling political disputes in Rivers State has reserved its judgment on consolidated appeals challenging two key rulings made by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Onyekachi Otisi, who leads the three-member panel, announced that the court will deliver its decision after carefully considering the final arguments presented by the parties involved.
The first appeal centers on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for local government elections.
Justice Lifu previously issued a ruling restraining INEC, although the elections were eventually conducted despite the legal dispute.
The second appeal concerns the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Lifu’s earlier ruling prevented the PDP’s national leadership from dissolving newly elected executives in the state. The case is reportedly rooted in internal party conflicts, particularly between factions loyal to Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the PDP’s national leadership.
Complicating matters further, two senior legal representatives appeared separately for the PDP in an appeal seeking to remove 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly allied with Wike. J.Y. Musa represented the faction led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, while B.F. Folurunsho claimed authorization from the party’s National Legal Adviser.
A legal analyst noted, “The court’s judgment will address crucial issues surrounding the independence of party leadership and the authority of electoral bodies.”
