The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the Rivers State Assembly and explained the commission’s inaction on the matter.
The faction aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara had requested the commission to conduct a bye-election to fill the seats of 25 assembly members loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
However, some Nigerians have criticized the commission for not responding to the lawmakers’ request.
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During a stakeholders meeting with media executives at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Yakubu stated that the commission has not acted due to several conflicting court judgments related to the Assembly’s crisis.
He emphasized that these conflicting rulings from both state and federal courts have also delayed the bye-election for the Assembly seat that became vacant following the death of a member.
He further revealed that INEC is aiming to hold bye-elections for the vacant House of Representatives seats and some Assembly positions by mid-December, following the deaths of several members.
According to him: “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.Â
“After that, there was a court judgement from the Rivers High Court as well as the Federal High Court on the legitimacy of each of these group of lawmakers. We at INEC has 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.Â
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