Court Fixes November 14 for Judgment in FREECON’s Case Against Tinubu’s Emergency Declaration in Rivers
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has fixed November 14, 2025, for judgment in a suit instituted by a civil society organisation, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration (FREECON), challenging the legality of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
The defendants in the matter include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and its Chairman, as well as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which was subsequently joined as a party to the suit.
FREECON is urging the court to determine whether, by a combined interpretation of Sections 197 and 198 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has the constitutional authority to create or appoint a Sole Administrator, or any other authority, to exercise the powers of a Governor in relation to the appointment of the Chairman and members of RSIEC.
The organisation further contends that the appointment of Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator — an office it argues is unknown to the Constitution — does not vest him with the statutory power to appoint the RSIEC Chairman and members, nor to conduct elections across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
After hearing arguments and the adoption of final written addresses by counsel representing the parties, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Turaki Mohammed, adjourned the matter for judgment on November 14, 2025.
