Rivers Assembly Issues Arrest Warrant for State Electoral Chairman

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), after he failed to appear before the Assembly within a 72-hour deadline.

The Assembly had sought to question Enebeli regarding the annulled local government elections held on October 5, 2024. These elections were declared void by the Supreme Court due to irregularities, which led to the court ordering a fresh poll, now scheduled for August 9, 2025.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule led the call for Enebeli to appear and provide an explanation, but his absence has prompted the Assembly to take the rare step of issuing an arrest warrant.

The political tension in the state has escalated further, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara recently inviting Assembly members for talks on how to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In a related development, the Supreme Court has barred federal financial institutions from releasing funds to Rivers State until the state complies with court orders, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing political crisis.