The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has today, nullified the May 23 local government elections held in the state, effectively sacking those elected at the elections.
Delivering judgment in a case brought by the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, which boycotted the poll, Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, has nullified the May 23 local government elections held in the state, effectively sacking those elected at the elections which was conducted by Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
The Court said the conduct of the election was illegal since it held in disobedience of an injunction as PDP had boycotted the election citing court injunction, which ordered that status quo be maintained.
The All Progressives Congress, led by then Governor Rotimi Amaechi won 22 of the 23 chairmanship seats in the elections. The party also won 297 councillorship seats in the 302 wards while Other political parties won the rest.
The PDP had in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/84/2015, prayed the court to declare the conduct of the elections illegal and of no effect as Justice Akanbi said conducting the elections despite a court order was a demonstration of executive lawlessness and impunity.
Meanwhile, there was pandemonium at the premises of the Federal High Court on Thursday morning as the police battled to foil an attempt by arsonists to raze the court
“There was an unsuccessful attempt to torch Federal High Court. It was never an explosion as speculated. Investigation has in earnest commenced.” police spokesperson in the state, Muhammed Ahmad, told reporters.