Rivers indigenes move to stop LG poll, drag Tinubu, sole administrator to court

Some indigenes of Rivers State have gone to court to stop the planned local government election in the state, scheduled for August 30, 2025.

President Bola Tinubu, the Rivers State Government, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, were listed as 1st to 4th respondents in the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/C’S/1144/2025.

The plaintiffs – Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo, and Comfort Agbom – all indigenes of Rivers State, in the suit filed by their lawyer, Sunday Ezema, prayed the Abuja Federal High Court to stop the election, arguing that the poll should not hold during the period of emergency rule, as the atmosphere is not yet conducive for its conduct.

The plaintiffs, in the suit filed on August 11, 2025, asked the court to interpret whether the scheduled local government council elections in Rivers State can be lawfully conducted during the period of a state of emergency.

In the originating summons, the plaintiffs argued that President Bola Tinubu had, in the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, stated that there is “clear and present danger or imminent breakdown of public order and public safety” and “clear and present danger of looming crises” which has affected “good governance, peace, security and order” in Rivers State.

The plaintiffs contend that the emergency situation in Rivers State has not abated or ceased to date, which is why the President has not revoked or suspended the state of emergency.

They questioned the validity of council elections during the period of a state of emergency when there is no “public order” and “public safety” in the state.

The plaintiffs further claimed that voters cannot vote in a period of emergency or in a situation of breakdown of “good governance, peace, security and order,” as is obtainable in Rivers State, going by the President’s proclamation.

The Rivers indigenes therefore prayed the court to stop the council elections from taking place on August 30, 2025, or at any other date during the period of the state of emergency.

Also, in the event that the elections are conducted during the period of the state of emergency, the plaintiffs are praying the court to set aside or nullify the polls for being a nullity.

Specifically, the plaintiffs are asking the court for the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the ‘clear and present danger or imminent breakdown of public order and public safety’ and ‘clear and present danger of the looming crises’ in Rivers State upon which the 1st Defendant (President Tinubu) proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers State on 18 March 2025, has not abated or ceased, hence the refusal of the 1st Defendant to revoke the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, before or on 30 August 2025, or at any other date before the expiration of six months from 18 March 2025.

“A declaration that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants CANNOT lawfully conduct the Local Government council elections in Rivers State, during the period of, subsistence and/or the pendency of the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

“A declaration that the ‘clear and present danger or imminent breakdown of public order and public safety’ and ‘clear and present danger of the looming crises’ in Rivers State that led to the Proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State by the 1st Defendant, having not abated or ceased, any local government council elections conducted in Rivers State by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants during the period of, subsistence and/or the pendency of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, on 30 August 2025 or at any other date, is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void in its entirety.”

Rivers indigenes move to stop LG poll, drag Tinubu, sole administrator to court