Adeyemi Adebanjo
MUM is the word from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the 25 seats declared ‘vacant’ by the Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie-led Rivers State House of Assembly even as the electoral umpire announces date for bye-elections in some state, federal and senatorial constituencies across the country.
On Friday 22nd December 2023, Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman Information Voter Education Committee, revealed via a press statement made accessible to newsmen in Abuja that the Commission will hold elections in the affected constituencies and districts on Saturday 3rd February 2024.
The statement reads: “The Commission has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly. These vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers i.e. the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.
“The vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine states of the Federation.
“Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. Currently, 35 Constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.
“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday 3rd February 2024.
“The Timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.
“We urge parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections. the statement reads.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that a court of competent jurisdiction in Rivers State has recognised Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and Hon Edison Ehie has declared the seats of the 25 former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant based on the court order.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had issued an injunction preventing INEC from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the 26 members.
Meanwhile, at a peace meeting at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Monday, it was agreed by all the stakeholders that the defected lawmakers retain their seats despite their defection. Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, among others were in attendance. In the eight-point agreement, no mention was made of either the subsisting court order or the declaration by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie.
This development may have placed the electoral umpire in a quandary as to the next line of action.
However, standard practice is to the effect that in the event of contradictory verdicts by courts of coordinate jurisdiction and hierarchy, the first in time takes precedence, unless the case is pursued in a higher court than the initial court.
Eighteen-Eleven Media