The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has thrown out a suit challenging the validity of the August 30, 2025 local government elections in the state.
The legal action was instituted by a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Williams Abayomi, who questioned the process that produced the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) which oversaw the polls.
Abayomi specifically faulted the role of the state’s Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who nominated the RSIEC chairman and members. He argued that the appointments were unlawful and by extension, invalidated the election.
Those listed as defendants in the matter included President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas (rtd), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and RSIEC.
In his judgment, Justice Stephen Jumbo dismissed the suit, ruling that the claimant lacked both locus standi and the jurisdictional basis to pursue the case.
On the issue of locus standi, the court held that Abayomi did not establish any direct or personal injury that would result from the conduct of the election.
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Justice Jumbo further observed that the interest sought to be protected by the claimant was that of the state governor and not his own, thereby stripping him of the legal standing to sue.
The court also ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, reinforcing that only a party with sufficient legal interest could approach the court in such matters.
With this judgment, the August 30 local government elections conducted under the supervision of RSIEC remain legally valid. The decision is expected to further strengthen the legitimacy of elected council officials and dampen challenges to the role of the state administrator in the electoral process.
