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The Special Court of Appeal Panel adjudicating political disputes in Rivers State has reserved judgment on consolidated appeals challenging two significant rulings by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Onyekachi Otisi, heading the three-member panel, announced that the court would issue its decision after reviewing the final submissions from the parties involved.
One of the appeals focuses on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting local government elections. Justice Lifu’s earlier ruling restrained INEC, but the elections have since been held.
The second appeal involves the Rivers chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where Justice Lifu barred the PDP’s national leadership from dissolving newly elected executives in the state.
The case reportedly stems from factional conflicts between members loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the party’s national leadership.
Adding to the complexity, two senior lawyers announced separate appearances for the PDP in the appeal seeking to unseat 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike. J.Y. Musa represented the Umar Damagum-led faction, while B.F. Folurunsho claimed the PDP’s National Legal Adviser authorised him.
“The judgment will address fundamental questions about the independence of party leadership and electoral bodies,” noted a legal observer. The court’s final ruling is awaited, and it has significant political and legal implications for Rivers State.