A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a lawsuit 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 RSIEC’s refusal to accept their list of candidates, seeking to replace those currently occupying council positions who were nominated by the Tony Okocha-led faction. However, in his judgment, presiding judge Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the suit was statute-barred, as it was not filed within the stipulated seven-day period nor determined within fourteen days, as required by Regulation 10, Subsection 2 of the Emergency Powers Conduct Regulations.
Justice Jumbo further stated that since the matter was a pre-election issue and already statute-barred, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. The court directed both parties to bear their respective expenses, with no costs awarded against either side. Counsel to RSIEC declined to comment on the ruling, while counsel to the plaintiffs, James Allen-Umeni, said they would apply for a copy of the ruling, study it, and consider their next line of action.
As law-abiding citizens, Allen-Umeni emphasized that they are bound by the law and will follow legal proceedings in seeking redress. The plaintiffs will now consult with their clients to determine the next course of action. The dismissal of the suit brings an end to the legal challenge posed by the Beke-led faction, at least for the time being. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission can now proceed with the local government elections, scheduled for August 30, 2025, without further legal hurdles from this particular faction.
