Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, reserved judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the local government election in Rivers State.
He said a date for the judgment would be communicated to parties after lawyers in the suit adopted their processes and argued their case on the matter.
The APC had in the suit urged the court to pronounce that INEC can only release the register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) “in strict conformity and compliance with the mandatory provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.”
The party argued that the commission in line with the provisions can stop continuous voter registration at least 90 days before the date of the election.
It stressed that the condition precedent for the conduct of local government election in Rivers had not been met by RSIEC.
At the resumed hearing, the court listened to all pending preliminary applications, including those seeking joinder brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Boot Party as well as the substantive suit.
The APC counsel, Goddy Uche (SAN), also presented his motion for change of counsel and discontinuance of the suit on behalf of the Rivers chapter of the party.
The motion was filed by Uche and signed by the APC chairman in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, and the secretary, Sam Etetegwung, respectively.
However, Joseph Daudu (SAN), who appeared for the APC national leadership, prayed the court to grant their relief.
In their arguments, counsel for the Rivers State Attorney-General, Taiwo Taiwo (SAN), and Femi Falana (SAN), who appeared for INEC, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.
They equally challenged the competence of the suit on the ground that it was statute-barred.The respondents further contended that the proper court with jurisdiction to entertain the case is the Rivers division of the FHC.
Justice Lifu consequently reserved judgment in the matter after listening to the parties.
