The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a strong ultimatum to the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), warning that he will be arrested if he fails to appear before the House by Friday, March 7, 2025. The move comes after a motion was presented by Enemi George, the lawmaker representing Asari-Toru Constituency 2, during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The controversy stems from a Supreme Court ruling that annulled the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the state. In response, Justice Enebeli had set a new date, August 9, 2025, for a fresh poll. However, the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly has expressed concerns over the conduct of the electoral chief during the botched election and has decided to probe his actions.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara reassured the people of the state in a broadcast on Sunday, stating that his administration would fully implement the Supreme Court’s ruling after carefully reviewing its Certified True Copy (CTC). Fubara also confirmed that his legal team expects to receive the CTC by Friday, March 7, 2025.
In the same address, the governor directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume immediate control of the 23 local government councils across the state, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated the results of the October 2023 local government elections. Until new elections are conducted, civil servants will oversee the administration of the councils.
The ongoing legal battles also saw a ruling from the Supreme Court on Friday, which barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other federal agencies from releasing funds to the Rivers State government. This order is in response to what the court described as the state’s flagrant disobedience to previous court orders.
The court also dismissed a cross-appeal filed by Governor Fubara, which sought to challenge the validity of the Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. With the dismissal of this appeal, the court instructed Amaewhule to immediately resume his duties alongside other elected members of the Assembly.
As the state grapples with these legal and political issues, all eyes will be on the developments in the coming days, with fresh elections, the future of the RSIEC, and the ongoing investigation by the Assembly likely to dominate the political landscape.
