The Supreme Court has postponed its decision on an appeal challenging the validity of the local government elections in Rivers State, held on October 5, 2024.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking to overturn the results of the polls.
A five-member panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, concluded the hearing after all parties presented their final arguments.
The APC’s lawyer, J.B. Daudu, asked the court to nullify the election, while Governor Siminalaye Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) counsel, Chris Uche, defended the poll’s legitimacy.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal had overturned a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had halted the elections.
The appellate court stated that the lower court had no jurisdiction over the matter, as state elections are not covered under Section 28 of the Electoral Act.
The initial ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing a voter register for the election, citing non-compliance with legal requirements.
The court also criticized RSIEC for failing to issue the mandatory 90-day election notice.
With the Supreme Court set to decide, the fate of the Rivers LG election remains uncertain.
