INEC faults Fubara's allegations on Rivers Assembly crisis

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over allegations of being biased regarding its refusal to fill vacancies arising from the defection of serving members of the National and State Assembly from one political party to another.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesman to INEC Chairman, in a statement on Friday, dismissed the claims as misleading and baseless.
Oyekanmi said that the commission cannot conduct elections to fill vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly while the matter remains in court.

A faction loyal to Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara had urged INEC to conduct a by-election to fill the seats of 25 lawmakers loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

In response, Wike’s faction also declared vacant the seats of members loyal with Fubara.

Also, Fubara had accused INEC of deliberately refusing to act on vacancies created by the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State legislature.

However, INEC clarified that the matter is subjudice, with multiple lawsuits pending across various courts, including the Supreme Court.

“While no specific instances of the alleged selective action were presented, the statement specifically accused the Commission 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, subjudice.

“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 pending cases in court.”