THE Supreme Court recognised Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule has issued a warrant of arrest on the Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), Rtd Justice Adolphus Enebeli, following his refusal to appear before the Assembly.
Recall that the Assembly had summoned the chairman and members of RISIEC to appear before it within 48 hours or face arrest, but the chairman of the commission and his members reportedly refused to appear before the Assembly.
This development has led to the resignation of two out of the 7 members of the commission.
The House had resolved that the decision of of RSIEC to conduct a fresh local government election on 9 August 2025, was not in order. It summoned RSIEC to give explanations regarding its activities and about preparations for the 5 October 2024 local government election which was declared null and void by the Supreme Court.
The Special Assistant to the Amaewhule on Media Affairs, Martins Wachukwu, had said in a statement that: “They are being invited to explain the Commission’s actions concerning the 5 October 2024 local government council elections in the state.
“Another reason for the invitation is to clarify the unbudgeted expenditures undertaken by the Commission and how it plans to generate funds for the proposed elections.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media however reports that RSIEC had earlier filed a lawsuit against Martins Amaewhule and 26 others over an alleged attempt to invalidate their appointments. The legal action, initiated at the Rivers State High Court, challenges moves by Amaewhule and his associates to nullify the appointments, arguing that such efforts are unconstitutional and pose a threat to governance in the state.
Additionally, the Chairman of RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), and his commissioners have filed a separate lawsuit challenging the Assembly’s authority to summon them for questioning.
The Assembly had initially given Enebeli a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it to explain the circumstances surrounding the nullified October 2024 local government election. However, following the RSIEC Chairman’s failure to honour the invitation, the deadline was extended by 72 hours.
In their suit, Justice Enebeli and his team are asking the court to restrain the Assembly from compelling them to appear before it, arguing that such a move would be unlawful.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Frank Onyiri granted leave for the claimants to serve the Assembly through substituted means and adjourned the hearing to 17 April 2025.
During its plenary session on Wednesday, the Rivers State House of Assembly reaffirmed its decision to summon Enebeli and his commissioners.
Lawmakers insisted that RSIEC officials must account for the sources of funding for the annulled local government election and provide details on the proposed expenditure for the fresh election scheduled for 9 August 2025.
Eighteen-Eleven Media