The Special Court of Appeal Panel established to hear political cases in Rivers State has reserved its judgment in the consolidated appeals challenging the ruling of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, announced that judgment would be reserved after counsel for all parties involved in the appeals presented their final briefs and arguments.
One of the appeals concerns the Rivers State local government election.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of the local government elections, which have since taken place.
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Another appeal involves a decision by Justice Lifu on a case brought by some members of the Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said to be aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In an ex parte ruling, Justice Lifu restrained the national leadership of the PDP from dissolving the newly elected executives of the party in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, a brief drama unfolded in court as two senior lawyers appeared separately for the PDP in a case challenging the legitimacy of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are loyal to Wike.
J. Y. Musa announced his appearance for the Umar Damagum-led PDP executive, while B. F. Folurunsho claimed he was duly assigned the case by the party’s National Legal Adviser, who he said had the authority to handle all legal matters pertaining to the PDP.
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