A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has turned down a request seeking to stop the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State.
The suit was filed by some concerned parties who argued that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission should not proceed with preparations for the poll. They sought an order of injunction to halt the process, citing alleged irregularities in the build-up to the exercise.
In his ruling, the presiding judge held that the applicants failed to provide sufficient grounds to justify such an order. The court further stated that halting an election already scheduled by law would amount to disrupting the constitutional responsibility of the electoral body.
With the case struck out, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is now expected to continue with arrangements for the polls as planned. The ruling is seen as a significant step in clearing the legal obstacles that had threatened to stall the local government election.
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