POLITICS

Why INEC Is Silent On Rivers Assembly Crisis, Prof. Yakubu

Published

5 months ago

November 2, 2024

Aproko

File Photo: INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has explained why the commission has not acted on the controversy trailing the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The leadership of the faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara wrote the commission to conduct a by-election to fill the position of the 25 members of the Assembly loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Some Nigerians also accused the commission of failing to act on the request by the lawmakers.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Media Executive at the Commission headquarters in Abuja, Prof Mahmood said it had not acted because of the several conflicting court judgements on the crisis in the Assembly.

He also noted that as a result of the crisis and the conflicting judgements of courts both at the state and federal levels, the commission had also not conducted the bye-election into the State Assembly occasioned by the death of one of the members.

He disclosed that the Commission was looking towards the middle of December to conduct a bye-election into the House of Representatives declared vacant as a result of the death of members of the House as well as some state Houses of Assembly.

According to the INEC boss, “The seat of 25 members of the Rivers state House of Assembly was declared vacant by three other members. The 25 members also declared the seat of the three vacant.

“After that, there was a court judgement from the Rivers High Court as well as the Federal High Court on the legitimacy of each of these groups of lawmakers. “We at INEC have been following the development. We don’t know what will happen next and so, we are seeking the views of Nigerians, especially legal experts on this.”

On the conduct of the bye-election, he said the commission was working out the logistics for the conduct, adding that it would soon announce the date for the elections.

Prof Mahmood said that the Commission was carrying out consultations on the possibility of having political parties that won election into the parliament but lost such members either due to death or resignation to nominate a candidate to fill the vacant position.

According to him, the tenure of lawmakers is tied to the particular assembly they were elected to, hence the need to ensure that such positions are not left vacant.

He said the conduct of bye-elections has created lots of logistical issues for the commission, adding that between July 2023 when the current government came into power, it has had about 20 bye-elections.

He explained that in other parts of the world, the political party whose member dies simply nominates another person to take over the seat, adding that in Nigeria, this is not the case.

He said the commission was discussing the possibility of adopting the same method with stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process while asking for suggestions from Nigerians.

The Nation

For Advert placement, music promotion, event coverage, social media & event management, or to share breaking news story with us, contact: +2347062811394 or +2347059964320.