Following the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), and other commissioners of RSIEC by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the lawmakers have invoked its powers to issue a warrant to compel their appearance.
The State Assembly issued the warrant on Monday, during its 133rd Legislative Sitting, hinged its decision on Section 129(1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, adding that warrant followed RSIEC Chairman’s failure to appear before it after being summoned.
The lawmakers said they had summoned the state electoral commission to explain it’s alleged malfeasance in the conduct of the purported ill-starred 5th October, 2024 Local Government Elections in the State, as well as where the commission expects to generate funds to conduct the proposed 2025 local government election.
The House, reached the resolution after three former Members of the Commission who resigned their appointment recently appeared before the House to explain their roles.
The House Leader, Hon. Major Jack then read Section 129 (1)(d) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution to remind the House of the powers donated to the Assembly by the Constitution, emphasizing the refusal of Justice Enebeli (Rtd), and other members of the Commission to honour the summons.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, lamented that those who appeared before the House for screening and confirmation when they were seeking to be appointed now treat summons from the House with levity.
Amaewhule added that the House is empowered by Section 128 of the Constitution to conduct investigation within their Legislative competence, therefore Retired Justice Enebeli and other commissioners of the commission must be brought to the House for questioning on how they spent the funds allocated to them.
Earlier, the House had given First Reading to three Bills; the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025, and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.
