A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by Fubara Dagogo and eight other members of the Emeka Beke-led faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
The suit challenged the nomination of candidates for the August 30, 2025, local government elections in the state.
The plaintiffs had approached the court to contest the refusal of RSIEC to accept the list of candidates submitted by the Beke-led faction of the APC.
They also sought to replace those currently occupying council positions, who were nominated by the Tony Okocha-led faction.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, dismissed the suit for being statute-barred, noting that it was neither filed within seven days nor determined within fourteen days as stipulated under Regulation 10, Subsection 2 of the Emergency Powers Conduct Regulations.
Justice Jumbo further ruled that since the matter was a pre-election issue and already statute-barred, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.
Although no costs were awarded against any of the parties, the court directed both sides to bear their respective expenses.
Counsel to RSIEC, from the State Ministry of Justice, declined to comment after the ruling.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, James Allen-Umeni, spoke to journalists.
He said, “For us, in his opinion, he has given a considered ruling. We would after now apply for a copy of the ruling and study it and think of the next line of action.
“As law abiding citizens, we are bound by the law and if we are not in terms with the judgement or not, we are bound to follow legal proceedings in seeking redress.
“So, we will talk with the claimants and know the next line of action.”