- As Supreme Court reinstates Wike-backed lawmakers
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara against misleading the public on political defections especially by lawmakers.
This is as the Supreme Court on Friday ordered that Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members to resume sitting unhindered forthwith.
The Amaewhule-led lawmakers are considered loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the Commission’s attention was drawn to a statement credited to Governor Fubara, accusing it of selective conduct of elections to fill vacancies arising from the defections of serving members of the National and State Assemblies from one political party to the other.
Oyekanmi said in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja that while no specific instances of the alleged selective actions were presented, the Governor’s remarks specifically accused INEC of deliberate failure to fill the vacancies resulting from the protracted crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly where two factions are jostling for control.
He said; “In the midst of the crisis, three or so lawmakers have declared the seats of 27 members vacant and vice versa.
“While the Commission is aware of the situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the matter is pending in court and, therefore, sub judice.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has been joined in several suits filed by litigants at various courts, including the Supreme Court.
“Under the circumstances, the Commission must await the final judicial pronouncement on the matter before it embarks on a puerile exercise that may eventually amount to a nullity and a waste of public funds.
“We urge people occupying high public offices to be circumspect in their public statements before they mislead the public and cast aspersion on public institutions, particularly where they are aware of the pendency of cases in court.”
