The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a previous decision by a federal high court that had blocked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) with the voter register needed to conduct local government elections in Rivers State.
The high court’s ruling, delivered by Judge Peter Lifu on September 30, had prohibited INEC from releasing the voter data to RSIEC and also prevented the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from offering protection during the election.
However, upon reviewing an appeal against this ruling, the special appellate panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, determined that the high court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Justice Otisi further noted that the issue should not have been presented before the lower court, as it lacked the authority to rule on matters related to local government elections.
As a result, the Court of Appeal annulled the high court’s judgment.
The Rivers State local government elections proceeded on October 5, with Adolphus Enebeli, chairman of RSIEC, announcing that the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured victories in 22 out of the 23 local government areas.