Port Harcourt, Rivers State — A legal bid to stop the upcoming August 30 local government council elections in Rivers State was dismissed by a High Court in Port Harcourt today. The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, rejected a motion filed by Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner Williams Abayomi-Stanley, citing a lack of merit in the application.
The motion, which was filed against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its chairman, sought to halt the elections. However, the court’s decision clears the way for the polls to proceed as scheduled.
Justice Jumbo did, however, grant a motion for substituted service to the defendants and adjourned the substantive case until September 10, 2025.
Speaking outside the courtroom, the claimant’s counsel, Godsent Elewa, explained that his client approached the court to seek a legal interpretation of the RSIEC law and the Nigerian constitution. The core of the case is to determine if the president has the legal authority to appoint a chairman and members for RSIEC to conduct council elections.
Elewa expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to grant one of his motions and stated his readiness to continue the proceedings on the new adjourned date.
