Rivers State Assembly issues arrest warrant for Justice Adolphus Enebeli over his failure to appear about the annulled October 2024 elections
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), after he failed to comply with a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before the Assembly.
This move comes as the Assembly seeks to question Enebeli about the annulled local government elections held on October 5, 2024.
The elections were declared void by the Supreme Court due to significant irregularities, which led to the court’s directive for a fresh election, now scheduled for August 9, 2025.
The Assembly’s action follows Enebeli’s absence from an earlier summons, which prompted the unprecedented decision to issue an arrest warrant.
Speaker Martins Amaewhule has led the charge to hold Enebeli accountable for his role in the annulled elections. His refusal to cooperate with the Assembly has further escalated the tensions in the state’s political landscape.
In addition to this, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has invited members of the Assembly to discuss the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, adding to the political pressure in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also prohibited federal financial institutions from releasing funds to Rivers State until the state adheres to the court’s orders, deepening the ongoing crisis.
The situation has become a focal point in the state’s political dynamics, with the legislature and executive at odds over how best to handle the fallout from the annulled elections and the looming fresh poll in 2025.
