Rivers High Court Restrains NBA Port Harcourt Branch Election Over Disputed Voters’ List

The High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the conduct of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch election earlier scheduled to hold on Friday, 26th June 2026, pending the determination of issues raised before it concerning the authenticity and integrity of the voters’ list intended for use in the election.

The Claimants/Applicants, who expressed grievances over alleged irregularities in the voters’ list prepared for the election, commenced an action before the court by way of an Originating Summons. Alongside the substantive suit, they filed an Ex Parte Application seeking, among other reliefs, an order of court halting the conduct of the election pending the determination of the suit.

Upon considering the Ex Parte Application, the court, presided over by Hon. Justice S. Aprioku, declined to grant the reliefs sought without hearing the other parties and accordingly directed the Claimants/Applicants to put the Defendants/Respondents on notice.

Following compliance with the court’s directive, the Defendants/Respondents were duly served, and the matter came up for hearing. Learned counsel on both sides addressed the court extensively on the propriety or otherwise of allowing the election to proceed as scheduled while the issues raised in the suit remained unresolved.

After hearing the submissions of counsel, the court held that there was a need to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in the electoral process, particularly with respect to the voters’ register intended to be used for the election. The court observed that the authenticity of the voters’ list was a central issue in the dispute and that the interests of justice required the preservation of the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the pending applications.

Consequently, the court made an interim order restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their agents, privies, officers, or any persons acting on their behalf from proceeding with the NBA Port Harcourt Branch election scheduled for 26th June 2026 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The court further ordered the Claimants/Applicants to enter into a bond in the sum of Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000.00) as an undertaking in damages in the event that the action is subsequently found to be frivolous or lacking in merit.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to 6th July 2026 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.