By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Sequel to the nullification of its earlier efforts by the Supreme Court, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on Wednesday March 5, 2025, rolled out a time table for the conduct of fresh Local polls.
This is even as the now combative State House of Assembly issued a 48 hour dateline for the Commission’s Chairman to appear before it over issues relating to the annulled 2024 exercise.
The 27 Pro-Wike State Lawmakers, obviously, still savouring their Supreme Court recognition after nearly two years in the wilderness, at plenary on Wednesday, directed the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, rtd, to appear before them to offer some explanations regarding its Council Elections in 2024.
The Speaker, Martins Amaewfule, warned that failure to honour the invitation would result in the issuance of a arrest warrant on the Commission’s Chairman.
In a move suggesting of its intentions to dig deeper into the trenches, the legislators also, requested Governor Siminalayi Fubara to, immediately, forward all the names of Commissioners who were appointed without being screened by them.
The Lawmakers had, on Monday, March 3, 2025, given the Governor two days to represent the 2025 budget estimate to the House.
Meanwhile, the electoral umpire has fixed Saturday, August 9, 2025 as the date for the conduct of another Local Council Polls in the State.
The Source reports that the earlier efforts on October. 5, 2024, was one of the casualties of last Friday’s Supreme Court verdict.
At a stakeholders meeting, the Chairman, Justice Enebeli, noted that the decision to hold fresh Council Election was in compliance with the pronouncements of the Apex Court of the land.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission by session 5 of the RSIEC law, no 2 of 2018, and all other enabling provisions, the Commission hereby, provides guidelines for political parties, stipulating rules and procedures for electioneering campaigns.
The Commission, therefore, announces that Local Government Council Election will hold on Saturday, August ,9, 2025, in all the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State”, the Electoral Commission stated.
The Supreme court had, halted the remission of the State’s and Local Council monthly statutory Federal Allocations.
The State’s allocation will be released after the representation of the 2025 appropriation bill to the enlarged House of Assembly led by Speaker Amaewfule ,while that of the Councils will start flowing again after the election of another set of council officials.
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