The Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), to appear before it within 48 hours to address concerns surrounding the 2024 local government elections.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who presided over the proceedings, warned that failure to comply would result in a warrant for Justice Enebeli’s arrest.
The lawmakers also resolved to formally request Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of commissioners yet to be screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
Meanwhile, RSIEC has scheduled fresh local government elections for August 9, 2025.
Justice Enebeli announced the date during a stakeholders’ meeting at RSIEC’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, where he also released the timetable and guidelines for the polls.
Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to a transparent and credible electoral process, he urged political parties to adhere strictly to electoral regulations.
The decision to conduct new elections follows last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, which nullified the tenure of the 23 local government chairmen in the state.
The court ruled that the elections held on October 5, 2024, violated Section 150 of the Electoral Act, rendering them invalid.
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