Port Harcourt, Nigeria — A suit challenging the legality of the August 30, 2025 local government election in Rivers State has been dismissed by a Rivers State High Court. The case, filed by lawyer Williams Abayomi, was struck out on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and lack of a justifiable reason for the legal action.
Abayomi had sought to invalidate the election, arguing that the appointment of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) by the former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (retired) Ibok-Ete Ibas, was illegal. The suit named President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Rivers State Administrator, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and RSIEC as defendants.
Judicial Reasoning and Reaction
Delivering the judgment, Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the claimant, Abayomi, lacked the “locus standi” to bring the suit. The court determined that Abayomi could not show any personal injury or hardship resulting from the election, noting that the interest he was seeking to protect belonged to the state governor, not himself.
Furthermore, Justice Jumbo stated that the Rivers State High Court lacked the authority to hear the case, citing Section 1(1) of the Emergency Powers Act of 1961, which reserves such matters for the Supreme Court. The judge also added that the August 30 election was “lawful and valid” as it was conducted in accordance with the constitution.
In response to the ruling, Abayomi’s counsel, Godsent Elewa, announced that his client would appeal the judgment. He maintained that the judge’s comments on the election’s validity were an aside and unrelated to the subject matter of the case. Meanwhile, the PDP’s counsel, Monday Otokwala, welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as consistent with the law.
