A Federal High court in Abuja on Friday stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Justice Peter Lifu issued an order of interim injunction against INEC, while delivering ruling in a motion ex-parte brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The motion ex-parte was filed on behalf of the APC by a team of senior lawyers comprising Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja, all SANs. It was brought pursuant to Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act, Order 26 Rules 1 and 3, order 28 rules 1 and 2, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court as enshrined in Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judges also ordered the Rivers Electoral Commission and Rivers Attorney-General from receiving from INEC or using part of the National Voter’s Register relating to Rivers State to conduct local government elections in the state.
Similarly, Justice Lifu restrained the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Service (DSS) from participating or providing security protection for Rivers State Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections in the state.
Also, the judge issued another order directing INEC, Rivers State Electoral Commission, AG Rivers State, IGP and DSS to maintain status quo ante bellum and not to do any act or take any further steps in furtherance of the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State.
The interim orders are to remain in force pending the determination of the substantive suit in which the APC is challenging the propriety of the conduct of elections in Rivers local governments.
In granting the interim restraining orders, Justice Lifu directed the APC to undertake to pay damages to the five defendants in case its suit was found to be frivolous and that the restraining orders ought not to have been granted in the first instance.
Justice Lifu also granted substituted service of the orders and other court processes on the five defendants through publications in two major national dailies before the adjourned date to attract the attention of the defendants.
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