Tinubu Taken to Court Over Rivers Local Government Elections

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has brought President Bola Tinubu before it in relation to the contentious August 30, 2025, local government elections in Rivers State.

Attorney Clifford Nnanta Chuku is requesting that the court, in an action filed on September 11, 2025 (No. FHC/PH/CS/173/2025), declare the Emergency Powers Regulation, which Tinubu enacted to govern the elections, unconstitutional and annul the votes.

Chuku claimed that the rule compromised democracy and violated the constitution by suspending portions of the Rivers State electoral legislation and the Electoral Act 2022.

Chuku claimed the President had overreached himself by suspending certain provisions of the statute in preparation for the Rivers elections, which was illegal.

Tinubu is named as a defendant in the lawsuit together with the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The court is primarily concerned with whether the regulation unlawfully curtailed the Rivers people’s democratic rights and if RSIEC’s election notice complied with the necessary legal deadlines.

Chuku wants the rule to be overturned, the August 30 elections nullified, and RSIEC forced to hold new elections in complete accordance with the Electoral Act.

The hearing has been scheduled for October 21, 2025 by the Federal High Court.

Legal experts think the case may influence the president’s future authority in election-related affairs.