The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the results of the recent Rivers State Local Government elections conducted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court overturned an earlier decision by the Federal High Court, which had nullified the council elections following a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had declared the Action Peoples Party (APP) the winner in 22 out of the state’s 23 local government areas.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the APC challenged the process in the Federal High Court, alleging violations of the Electoral Act. The lower court ruled in APC’s favor, annulling the elections.
However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, emphasizing that the Electoral Act does not govern local government elections.
The appellate court’s decision reaffirms the validity of the elections and the declaration of winners as announced by RSIEC.
This ruling is seen as a significant victory for the Fubara administration and the APP.
