The Rivers State House of Assembly, gave the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), an additional 72 hours to appear before the legislative body, following the expiration of the initial 48-hour deadline.
The decision was made during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Friday, after a motion was brought by lawmaker Enemi George.
The extension, which now sets the deadline for Monday, March 10, was passed by a majority vote, ensuring that Justice Enebeli, the RSIEC Chairman, and other electoral officials are present to respond to the House’s concerns.
Originally scheduled for a recess, the House adjourned their break to attend to the RSIEC matter, with Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol moving a motion to suspend the break and prioritize the RSIEC officials’ appearance.
In his address, Speaker Martin Amaewhule noted the legislative body had also taken “legislative notice” of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to present the 2025 state budget to the House, despite being given a 48-hour ultimatum.
Amaewhule emphasized that the Assembly would take appropriate action in due course.
While the RSIEC has yet to respond to the ongoing situation, tensions continue to mount regarding the upcoming Local Government elections.
On March 5, the House issued an ultimatum to RSIEC officials, warning of possible arrest if they failed to comply.
The standoff follows the Supreme Court’s recent annulment of the October 5, 2024, local government election in Rivers State, declaring it invalid due to violations of the Electoral Act.
The court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, cited RSIEC’s failure to comply with the Electoral Act and its guidelines, specifically its continued voter registration after an election date was set.
In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which ordered the conduct of a new local government election on August 9, 2025, the Assembly has vowed to probe the conduct of RSIEC officials in relation to the annulled election.
