Following the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued to the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to appear before it, the Rivers House of Assembly has given them another 72 hours to do so.Â
The lawmakers reached the resolution during plenary in Port Harcourt on Friday. The move followed a request brought by one of the lawmakers Enemi George.
This was deliberated with the House voting to extend the ultimatum to Monday, 10th March to enable Justice Enebeli, who is the RSIEC chief, and other officials, to appear before them.
The House had proposed to go on a break a few days back. But due to the extension of the ultimatum, Deputy Speaker of the House Dumle Maol moved a motion to suspend their recess so they could attend to the RSIEC chairman and his commissioners.
In his remarks, however, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule said they have taken legislative notice of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to present the 2025 budget to the House for consideration despite a 48-hour ultimatum to him.
Amaewhule said they will take action in due course.
RSIEC, has, however, not commented on the matter.
On March 5, the House of Assembly issued an ultimatum to the RSIEC officials and threatened to arrest them.
The ultimatum followed the fixing of August 9, 2025, for the conduct of a fresh Local Government (LG) poll after a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 election in Rivers State.
In the wake of the matter, the Amaewhule-led Assembly said it would probe the conduct of the electoral chief over the annulled election.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court nullified the local government election in Rivers State. In a judgement delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the apex court declared the election invalid over its gross violation of the Electoral Act.
Justice Tukur said RSIEC failed to substantially comply with the Electoral Act and guidelines. According to him, the electoral body continued voter registration even after fixing an election date.
The court said the processes leading to the conduct of the election were abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act.
