Rivers Assembly Orders Arrest of Electoral Chief Over Missed Summons

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, following his failure to comply with a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before lawmakers.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule, who leads the Assembly, stated that Enebeli was summoned to address concerns regarding the annulled local government elections held on October 5, 2024. The Supreme Court had nullified the elections due to irregularities and mandated a fresh poll, now scheduled for August 9, 2025.

Enebeli’s absence prompted the Assembly to take the drastic step of ordering his arrest. Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called for dialogue with Assembly members to facilitate the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling.

In a related development, the Supreme Court has barred federal financial institutions from disbursing funds to Rivers State until it fully complies with the court’s directives, further escalating political tensions in the state.