Five indigenes of Rivers State have filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to halt the state’s planned local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025.
The plaintiffs — Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo, and Comfort Agbom are challenging the move by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.), and President Bola Tinubu, alongside the Rivers State Government and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1144/2025 and dated August 11, 2025, the applicants, through their lawyer, Sunday Ezema, argue that the state remains under a state of emergency declared by the president on March 18, 2025, citing “a clear and present danger of imminent breakdown of public order and safety.” They insist the emergency conditions have not abated, noting that the proclamation has neither been revoked nor suspended.
They contend that holding elections under such circumstances would undermine public safety and prevent meaningful voter participation. The suit seeks court declarations that:
The Rivers State Government and electoral commission cannot lawfully conduct local government elections during the subsistence of the state of emergency.
Any election held on August 30, 2025, or any date within the emergency period, would be illegal, unconstitutional, and void.
The plaintiffs are also asking for an order setting aside any such election conducted before the emergency proclamation is lifted.
The case comes after the last local government election under suspended Governor Sim Fubara was nullified by the court over irregularities.
Advertisement
