The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed reservation over the statement by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara accusing the electoral body of selective implementation of elections to fill vacant legislative seats arising from political defections.
In a statement issued by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the commission dismissed the allegations as baseless, noting that the Governor failed to provide specific instances of selective action.
Fubara had claimed that the commission deliberately refused to conduct elections to fill vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where a deepening political crisis has resulted in two factions battling for control. The crisis has seen some lawmakers declare the seats of 27 members vacant, while the affected lawmakers have retaliated with similar pronouncements.
Denying the insinuation, Oyekanmi stated that no specific instances of the alleged selective action were presented by Fubara when he 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 noted that 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,” he said.
According to Oyekanmi, “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.”
The commission urged 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.
