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 sought to overturn RSIEC’s refusal to accept their list of candidates and to replace the council members nominated by the Tony Okocha‑led faction.
Presiding Judge Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that the suit was statute‑barred because it was not filed within the seven‑day period and was not determined within fourteen days as required by Regulation 10, Subsection 2 of the Emergency Powers Conduct Regulations. He further noted that, being a pre‑election issue already barred by statute, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. The court ordered each party to bear its own costs, with no costs awarded against either side.
Counsel for RSIEC declined to comment on the ruling. Plaintiffs’ counsel, James Allen‑Umeni, said they would obtain a copy of the judgment, study it, and consider their next steps. He emphasized that, as law‑abiding citizens, they are bound by the law and will follow legal procedures in seeking redress. The plaintiffs will now consult with their clients to determine their next course of action.
The dismissal ends the legal challenge posed by the Beke‑led faction, at least for now, allowing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to proceed with the local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025, without further legal obstacles from this faction.
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