A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) over the nomination of candidates for the August 30, 2025, local government elections.
Naijaonpoint reports that the suit, filed by Fubara Dagogo and eight others aligned with the Emeka Beke-led APC faction, sought to compel the electoral commission to recognise their list of candidates instead of those presented by the Chief Tony Okocha-led faction, whose nominees currently occupy the local councils.
Delivering judgment, Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the case qualifies as a pre-election matter under Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He held that while the Electoral Act 2022 does not expressly define what constitutes a pre-election matter, the suit clearly falls within the constitutional framework, making it subject to strict procedural timelines.
“Although the Electoral Act does not specifically define a pre-election matter, the case falls within the scope of Section 285(14) of the Constitution, which classifies it as such,” the judge stated.
Justice Jumbo further held that the plaintiffs failed to file the suit within the timeframe stipulated by law, rendering it statute-barred.
“The case was not filed within seven days and concluded within 14 days as required under Regulation 10(2) of the Emergency Powers Conduct Regulations,” the judge said.
He declared that since the suit was both a pre-election matter and time-barred, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it, thereby dismissing the case in its entirety.
In his ruling, Justice Jumbo directed that each party should bear its own costs, noting that no damages or legal expenses would be awarded.
Counsel from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, representing RSIEC, declined to comment on the verdict when approached by journalists after the court session.
Speaking shortly after the judgment, James Allen-Umeni, counsel to the claimants, described the ruling as a “well-considered judgment”, adding that his clients would review the decision and determine their next legal steps.
“After this, we will apply for a copy of the ruling, study it, and decide on the next line of action,” he told reporters.
“As law-abiding citizens, we are bound by the law. Whether or not we agree with the judgment, we will follow due legal process in seeking redress.”
The Rivers APC has been embroiled in internal division, with one faction loyal to Emeka Beke and backed by Rotimi Amaechi, and another led by Chief Tony Okocha, recognised by the party’s national leadership and aligned with the current state administration.
The disagreement over candidate nominations for the local government elections deepened tensions within the party, prompting the legal action dismissed by the court.
With the verdict, the Okocha faction’s candidates remain officially recognised by RSIEC ahead of the August polls.
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