The Rivers State House of Assembly has extended the deadline for the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to appear before it to March 10.
Mr. Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media Affairs, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday. He explained that the extension was granted to allow the commission to address concerns regarding its activities.
The assembly expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the RSIEC chairman and commissioners to honor an earlier invitation. As a result, lawmakers, during a recent sitting, directed the clerk to formally communicate a fresh summons to the officials.
“They are being invited to explain the commission’s actions concerning the Oct. 5, 2024, local government council elections in the state,” Wachukwu stated.
He further explained that the officials must clarify unbudgeted expenditures undertaken by the commission and outline how they plan to secure funding for the proposed election.
The speaker’s aide warned that failure to appear would compel the assembly to take constitutional measures.
“The assembly will be forced to invoke the spirit and letters of the constitution if the chairman and the commissioners fail to appear before it,” he said.
Additionally, Wachukwu noted that the house had taken “legislative notice” of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s refusal to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
“The house has also taken notice of the governor’s refusal to submit a list of commissioner nominees to the house as earlier directed,” he added.
