The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant of arrest against the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Retired) over his refusal to honour the Legislature’s invitation.
The House issued the warrant during its plenary on Monday since the 72-hour ultimatum it gave to Enebeli to appear before it had expired.
Enebeli drew the anger of the House after he failed to comply with the 72-hour ultimatum.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, says it wants to question Enebeli after the Supreme Court annulled local government elections held in the state on October 5, 2024.
The Supreme Court had voided these elections due to irregularities and ordered a fresh poll, that RSIEC fixed for August 9, 2025.
Enebeli’s absence prompted the Assembly to take the unprecedented step of ordering his arrest.
Adding to the state’s political tensions, Governor Siminalayi Fubara recently invited Assembly members for a dialogue on implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The House had resolved that decision of RSIEC to conduct a fresh local government election on August 9, 2025, was not in order.
The Special Assistant to the Amaewhule on Media Affairs, Martins Wachukwu, had said in a statement: “They are being invited to explain the commission’s actions concerning the Oct. 5, 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.”
