Rivers Assembly Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum to Electoral Commission Over Alleged Misuse of Funds
The political tension in Rivers State has escalated as the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the state House of Assembly has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), demanding their appearance before the legislature.
The ultimatum, declared on Friday, follows the failure of RSIEC officials to honor an earlier invitation to appear before the assembly. On Wednesday, the legislature had summoned Adolphus Enebeli, chairman of RSIEC, along with other commissioners, instructing them to provide relevant documents detailing how state funds were expended without an appropriation law since January 2024.
The lawmakers warned that failure to comply with the summons could result in a warrant of arrest for Enebeli and his commissioners. Despite this, RSIEC officials did not appear before the assembly on Friday, further intensifying the standoff.
During Friday’s plenary session, Enemi George, representing Asari-Toru Constituency 2, moved a motion to extend the deadline, granting the RSIEC officials until Monday, March 10, 2024, to present themselves before the legislature. The assembly adopted the motion and instructed the clerk to send another invitation letter to RSIEC leadership, reinforcing their demand for accountability.
This latest development comes in the wake of RSIEC’s recent announcement that fresh local government elections in Rivers State will be conducted on August 9, 2025. According to Enebeli, the decision aligns with a recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections. The court, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, ruled that RSIEC failed to meet the conditions outlined in Section 150(3) of the Electoral Act before conducting the polls.
The political crisis in Rivers State has been deepening due to the ongoing rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Amaewhule-led faction of the state assembly, which holds the majority, remains staunchly aligned with Wike, further complicating the state’s volatile political landscape.
