Rivers Assembly Summons RSIEC Chairman, Commissioners, Condemns “Infiltration Of Impostors” Into The State Executive Council

Peeved by the continuous display of brigandage by some Heads of Commissions and Agencies of the Rivers State government, the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, at its 131st Legislative Sitting, resolved to summon the Chairman and Commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to appear before the House to explain the Commission’s actions and inactions in the purported conduct of the ill-fated 5th October, 2024 Local Government Elections in the State; and to further explain where the commission expects to generate funds to conduct the now proposed election.

The resolutions were reached after a debate on a Motion moved by the Member representing Asari Toru Constituency II, Hon.Enemi George, urging the House to condemn the latest attempt by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to initiate the process of conducting another local government elections, when it is palpably clear that tax-payers’ money would again be wasted because the conditions precedent for such elections have not been met.

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Debating the Motion, Members spoke in unison in its support and urged the House to summon the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission for proper oversight scrutiny.

Remarking on the Motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, cited Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which empowers the House to invite and investigate any official of government within their Legislative competence, adding that the House will not stand akimbo and look the other way when billion of Rivers money are being freighted away under the guise of conducting Local Government Elections that have no budgetary provision.
“Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Commission who is championing this illegality is a retired Judge of the Rivers State High Court, who is expected to know better”, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule emphasized.

When the Speaker put the question, the House voted in the affirmative, directing the Clerk of the House to invite the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission to appear before the House on Friday, 7th March, 2025; failure of which the House will invoke its powers under Section 129 of the Constitution to issue Warrant of Arrest.

In another Motion, moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack, the House condemned the infiltration of impostors into the State Executive Council, whereby persons who were not screened and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly are parading themselves as Commissioners, including the purported Commissioner for Justice and Attorney- General, which is a constitutionally provided office. The House resolved to urge Governor Siminialayi Fubara to stop this public ridicule and quickly within 48 hours send a list of Commissioner nominees to the House.

Adumbrating on the Motion, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule stated that given the constitutional powers donated to the person occupying the office of the Attorney-General, such officer is supposed to prosecute impostors in cabinet, but regrettably, Mr. Iboroma…who parades himself as Attorney- General of the State is also an impostor. The House then resolved to write to Governor Fubara, cataloguing all his infractions in this regard and urged him to do the needful; maintaining that though the House is aware of his instructions to heads of MDAs not to receive correspondence from the Assembly, the House will continue to write to him when the need arises.