President Bola Tinubu has been sued at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over the Rivers State local government elections conducted on August 30, 2025.
The suit, filed on September 11, 2025, with case number FHC/PH/CS/173/2025, was instituted by lawyer Clifford Nnanta Chuku, who is asking the court to nullify the polls.
Chuku is also challenging the Emergency Powers Regulation introduced by Tinubu to guide the elections, arguing that it suspended parts of the Electoral Act 2022 and Rivers State electoral laws in violation of the constitution.
READ ALSO: Rivers: Ibas Hands Over to Fubara Amid Mixed Reactions
He maintained that the president’s decision to suspend portions of existing law for the Rivers elections amounted to an unconstitutional overreach that undermined democracy.
Defendants in the Case
The suit lists President Tinubu, the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as defendants.
READ ALSO: Rivers LG Poll Could Have Been Better Conducted – Tonye Cole
Central to the case are two questions: whether the regulation unlawfully restricted the democratic rights of Rivers people and whether RSIEC’s election notice complied with the legal timelines required by law.
Reliefs Sought
Chuku is asking the court to strike down the regulation, declare the August 30 polls void, and order RSIEC to organise fresh elections in full compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Federal High Court has fixed October 21, 2025, for the hearing.
Wider Implications
Legal experts note that the case could set a precedent in defining the extent of presidential powers over electoral matters and determine whether emergency regulations can override existing electoral laws.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
