Chief justice of nigeria (CJN) Summons Judges Over Conflicting Rulings in Rivers Political Crisis
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has summoned several judges for questioning amid concerns over conflicting judgments related to political cases in Rivers State. This decisive action aims to address the confusion stemming from contradictory rulings affecting the recent local government elections.
In a bid to investigate these discrepancies, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has formed a panel led by a former justice of the Court of Appeal, which will include two heads of courts. The panel is set to present its findings by the end of the week. Additionally, the chief judge of the Rivers State High Court has been summoned to appear before the NJC panel next week.
The summons follows formal complaints regarding conflicting judgments related to the Rivers State local government area (LGA) elections. On September 4, a state high court permitted the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct elections using the 2023 voter register. However, a federal high court in Abuja contradicted this ruling on September 30, prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC. The federal court further ordered that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies refrain from providing security for the elections.
Despite the federal court’s restrictions, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara asserted that the RSIEC would proceed with the elections as scheduled, arguing that the court order did not halt the electoral process. Meanwhile, INEC confirmed it would comply with the federal court’s order and withheld the voter register, although RSIEC maintained that it had already obtained the necessary document from INEC in 2023.
On October 5, RSIEC conducted council elections across the state’s 23 LGAs, amid rising tensions between former Rivers governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The NJC’s investigation seeks to resolve the inconsistencies in judicial rulings and restore clarity to the judicial process surrounding these politically sensitive cases. As the situation unfolds, the outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications for the integrity of the electoral process in Rivers State and beyond.
The summoning of judges by the CJN reflects a commitment to uphold judicial integrity amid a politically charged environment. As the NJC’s inquiry progresses, stakeholders hope for a resolution that reaffirms the rule of law and ensures fair governance in Rivers State. The developments in this case will be closely monitored, given their potential impact on the future of Nigerian politics.
