Rivers Assembly demands answers from RSIEC chairman over 2024 local elections
On Wednesday, March 5, the Rivers State House of Assembly made a bold move by summoning the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), to appear before them in the next 48 hours. The Assembly is seeking clarification on how the 2024 local government elections were handled.
During a plenary session led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the House warned that if Enebeli fails to show up, they would have no choice but to issue an arrest warrant.
The Assembly also decided to officially ask Governor Siminalayi Fubara to provide the names of commissioners who were not screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
In another development, RSIEC has set the date for the next local government elections. Chairman Enebeli announced that the elections will take place on August 9, 2025, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commission’s headquarters on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
Speaking to stakeholders, Justice Enebeli reassured everyone that RSIEC is committed to holding a free, fair, and credible election, and encouraged political parties to play by the rules.
It’s important to note that, just last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the 23 local government chairmen elected on October 5, 2024, were unlawfully appointed and declared those elections void due to a violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act.
