The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers State, which was conducted on October 5, 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.
Rivers assembly crisis: Supreme Court restores Amaewhule as Speaker
Similarly, the Supreme Court on Friday, affirmed the Rivers House of Assembly led by Mr Martin Amaewhule as the authentic and legally constituted lawmaking body in the state.
A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, gave the order in a lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.
The apex court also restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from further releasing budgetary allocations to Rivers until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted house of assembly.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, the panel ordered that Amaewhule and other 26 members of the assembly, who were alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties unhindered.
The Supreme Court further ordered that all members of the house of assembly are to resume normal legislative businesses without any hindrance to any members.
Justice Agim condemned the conduct of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who he said chose to destroy the government of Rivers and resort to acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.
The apex court set aside the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers.
The panel equally awarded a cost of N5 million against Fubara and the Government of Rivers, to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Amaewhule.