LG Poll: Rivers Assembly Extends Ultimatum For RSIEC Officials To Appear
The Rivers State House of Assembly has granted a 72-hour extension to the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to appear before it, following their failure to comply with an initial 48-hour ultimatum.
The resolution was reached during plenary in Port Harcourt on Friday, after a request was brought forward by Enemi George, a lawmaker in the House.
The legislators subsequently voted to extend the deadline to Monday, 10th March, giving Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the RSIEC chairman, and other officials more time to honour the summons.
Assembly Suspends Recess Over RSIEC Summons
The Rivers Assembly had earlier planned to go on recess but decided to put it on hold to address the RSIEC issue.
A motion to suspend the break was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, to ensure the House could properly engage with the electoral body’s officials.
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In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, noted that the Assembly had taken legislative notice of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to present the 2025 budget for consideration, despite being given a 48-hour ultimatum.
“We have taken legislative notice of this development, and appropriate action will be taken in due course,” Amaewhule said.
Background to the Summons
The Assembly had issued the original ultimatum on 5th March, warning of possible legal action if the RSIEC officials failed to appear.
The move was prompted by the commission’s decision to fix 9th August 2025 for fresh local government elections in the state.
The announcement came in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement delivered on 1st March by Justice Jamilu Tukur, which nullified the 5th October 2024 local government elections in Rivers State.
The apex court ruled that the poll was conducted in gross violation of the Electoral Act, citing RSIEC’s failure to adhere to legal procedures, including the continuation of voter registration after an election date had been set.
Following the judgement, the Amaewhule-led Assembly resolved to probe RSIEC’s handling of the annulled election, raising concerns over the commission’s conduct.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
