The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed disapproval of recent comments made by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing the Commission of selectively implementing electoral processes concerning vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies.
In a statement issued Friday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman,Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Commission said no specific examples were provided to substantiate the claims made by Governor Fubara.
The governor’s allegations centered around the Commission’s purported inaction regarding vacancies arising from the ongoing crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly, where two factions are vying for control.
According to Oyekanmi; “The Commission is aware of the turbulent situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly. However, it is imperative to note that the matter is currently before the courts, and as such, is subjudice.”
The CPS continued, “INEC has been joined in various lawsuits at different judicial levels, including the Supreme Court. Therefore, it is critical for us to await the courts’ final decision on this issue before we potentially engage in actions that may be deemed null and void, resulting in a waste of public resources.”
Oyekanmi also urged public officials to exercise caution in their public statements to avoid misleading the populace and undermining vital public institutions.
“We call on those in positions of power to be judicious with their words, especially when aware of ongoing legal proceedings,” he emphasized.
The Commission’s reminder comes as part of its ongoing commitment to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and reinforce the rule of law in the face of rising political tensions within the state.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Friday, ordered the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members of the House to forthwith resume sitting, unhindered.
The court faulted the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for vacating the initial order that stopped the release of funds to Rivers State from the consolidated revenue following the failure of Governor Siminalaye Fubara’s refusal to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the state before the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A five-member panel of the apex court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, held that the appellate court misapprehended the core issue in dispute when it pegged it on the consolidated revenue of Rivers State alone.
“This wrong view influenced it to hold that the subject matter was not within the power of the Federal High Court,” the Supreme Court noted, stressing that what was at the center of the case was the refusal of governor Fubara to obey a subsisting court order mandating him to present the Appropriation Bill to the valid Assembly.
It agreed with the high court that the 27 lawmakers that allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, are still valid members of the Rivers Assembly, pending the final determination of their status.
The Supreme Court dismissed Governor Fubara’s claim that given the defection of the lawmakers, he had to invoke the doctrine of necessity by presenting the Appropriation Bill to the only five remaining members of the Assembly.
According to the court, the doctrine of necessity could not be invoked to justify an illegal action.
Accusing governor Fubara of destroying the government because of his fear of being impeached, the Supreme Court awarded N5 Million cost against him.
