The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, pointing to conflicting court judgments as the primary reason for its previous silence.
The commission has been closely monitoring the political impasse, which has fractured the assembly into two rival factions.
The division sees one faction aligned with current Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while the other backs former Governor Nyesom Wike.
The standoff has escalated, with each faction declaring the seats of the opposing lawmakers vacant, leading to confusion and instability within the state legislature.
In a recent statement, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, confirmed the commission’s awareness of the legal and political complications in Rivers State.
“We at INEC have been following the developments,” Yakubu said, explaining that INEC’s approach is cautious due to the “conflicting judgments” from the Rivers High Court and the Federal High Court regarding the legitimacy of each faction’s lawmakers.
The faction loyal to Governor Fubara has called on INEC to conduct by-elections to fill the seats of lawmakers allied with Wike, whose seats they had declared vacant.
Meanwhile, Wike’s loyalists have also taken similar action by declaring the seats of Fubara’s allies vacant.
INEC, recognizing the potential impact of its decisions, is seeking guidance from Nigerians, especially legal experts, to navigate the complex situation.
“We do not know what will happen next, and so we are seeking the views of Nigerians, especially legal experts on this,” Yakubu stated.
The commission’s decision is awaited as the situation continues to unfold, with hopes that legal advice and public input will help clarify the path forward.
