Rivers Elders Sue Tinubu, AGF, INEC, Others Over Alleged Unlawful Agreement

President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have been taken to the Federal High Court in Abuja

Regarding an alleged unauthorized agreement linked to the ongoing power struggle in the state.

Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were sued in the case.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit labeled FHC/ABJ/CS/1718/2023 consist of members from the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Bonny State Constituency, including Victor Jumbo, Senators Bennett Birabi and Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O. P. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs, and Emmanuel Deinma

The main complaint of the concerned elders focuses on an alleged unlawful agreement forced upon the Governor in an attempt to resolve the political deadlock in the state

They are arguing that the agreement signed on December 18 is not just illegal but also constitutes an act of usurping, nullifying, and undermining the existing and binding relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They are praying the court to determine whether President Tinubu, Governor Fubara, and the Rivers State Assembly possess the rights and are legitimately empowered to enter into any agreement that undermines or annuls the legal authority of Section 109(I)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They argued that neither President Tinubu nor Governor Fubara possesses the statutory authority to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting new elections to replace the 27 Rivers State lawmakers.

They stated that legislators had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Currently, no specific date has been set for the hearing of the suit.

Kanyi Daily recalls that Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had agreed to resolve the political turmoil in Rivers State.