A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday struck out an ex parte application seeking to stop the upcoming August 30 local government elections in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Stephen Jumbo dismissed the application filed by Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Williams Abayomi-Stanley, who had sued President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its Chairman. The judge held that the motion lacked merit and therefore could not stand.
However, Justice Jumbo granted an order for substituted service on the defendants and maintained that the local government elections would proceed as scheduled. The matter was adjourned until September 10, 2025, for further hearing on the substantive suit.
Speaking with journalists after the session, counsel to the applicant, Godsent Elewa, explained that his client was in court to seek judicial interpretation of provisions of the RSIEC Law and sections of the Nigerian Constitution regarding whether the President has the authority to appoint the state electoral commission’s chairman and members.
Elewa noted that while the court dismissed their request for an interim injunction to halt the polls, it granted the second motion for substituted service on President Tinubu and the Attorney-General. He added that his client, a constitutional lawyer from Emuoha LGA, was ready to proceed with the substantive hearing on the adjourned date.
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