INEC explains why it is silence on Rivers Assembly crisis

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According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the reason for its quiet over the controversy surrounding the Rivers Assembly is the multiple contradictory court rulings regarding the Assembly’s dilemma.

Remember how the faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s leadership urged the commission to hold a by-election to replace the 25 Assembly members who supported FCT Minister Nyesom Wike?

A few Nigerians also charged INEC with not fulfilling the lawmakers’ request.

Speaking to media executives during a stakeholder meeting at the Commission’s Abuja offices, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the chairman of the commission, stated that due to the turmoil and the contradictory rulings of state and federal courts, additionally, the commission has not held the Assembly by-election that was prompted by a member’s death.

Yakubu also disclosed that the Commission was planning to hold by-elections in the middle of December to fill the House of Representatives’ vacancies caused by member deaths and the declaration of vacant seats.

“The seats of 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were declared vacant by three other members. The 25 members also declared the seat of the three vacant.

“After that, there was a court judgment from the Rivers High Court as well as the Federal High Court on the legitimacy of each of this group of lawmakers. We at INEC have been following the development. We don’t know what will happen next and so, we are seeking the views of Nigerians, especially legal experts on this,” he said.

Regarding the by-elections, the head of INEC stated that the commission was arranging the procedures and that the election date will be announced shortly.

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