The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a motion ex parte seeking to halt the August 30 local government elections in the state.
Justice Stephen Jumbo, the presiding judge, ruled in a suit filed by Williams Abayomi-Stanley, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and its chairman.
The judge held that the motion lacked merit but granted an order for substituted service on the defendants.
He also directed that the conduct of the August 30 elections should proceed as scheduled and adjourned the case to September 10 for hearing on the substantive suit.
Godsent Elewa, counsel to the claimant, said his client approached the court to seek an interpretation of a section of the RSIEC law and the constitution on whether the president has the legal powers to appoint a chairman and members of the state electoral commission.
Elewa welcomed the ruling and expressed readiness to continue with the proceedings on the next adjourned date.