The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a warning against taking premature action to fill vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly. This comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara accused INEC of selectively implementing elections to fill vacancies caused by political defections amid the ongoing factional crisis in the Assembly.
However, INEC has clarified that the matter is still sub judice, with multiple court cases, including those before the Supreme Court, awaiting final decisions. According to Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, any attempt to act before the courts render a ruling could lead to unnecessary waste of public funds and potentially result in the nullification of any actions taken.
INEC has opted to respect the judicial process, awaiting the final pronouncement of the courts before taking any further steps. The commission has been joined in several suits filed by litigants at various courts, including the Supreme Court.
The commission also cautioned public officials to refrain from making misleading statements that could misguide the public, particularly when the matter is still under legal scrutiny.
