The Supreme Court is set to hear two appeals filed by the All-Progressives Congress (APC) contesting the validity of the 2024 local government elections held in Rivers State.

This follows the completion of preliminary proceedings led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who presided over a five-member panel. The court has directed all parties involved to submit and exchange their legal briefs by February 10, 2025.

The appeals challenge a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which overturned an earlier decision by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Justice Lifu had issued an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for conducting the elections.

Justice Lifu’s ruling, based on a suit filed by the APC (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024), argued that RSIEC had not met the necessary legal requirements to conduct the elections. However, the Court of Appeal later dismissed this judgment, stating that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case or issue such orders.