Another commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Ibierembo Evelyn Thompson is the latest to resign her position.
In a resignation letter, dated March 9, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), Mrs. Thompson, who until her resignation was the Commissioner in- charge of transport/logistics/stores, said her resignation followed the recent Supreme Court judgement which annulled the October 5 local government election, and the prevailing situation in the commission and the state.
Last week, two commissioner, Prof. Simeon Weli in- charge of political parties/ monitoring and Dr. Lazbery Nyebuchi, in- charge of budget/research /statistics, all turned in their resignation letters, citing the same reasons mentioned by Mrs. Thompson.
Last week, the state electoral commission announced August 9, 2025, as the new date for local government election in the state, following the annulment of last year’s October 5 election by the Supreme Court.
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However, shortly after the announcement of the new date, the state House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, summoned the chairman of the electoral commission, and his commissioners to appear before the assembly, to explain sources of their funding, claiming the funds being expended by the commission were not appropriated.
In his reply, the chairman of the electoral body through his legal counsel, frowned at the 48- hour notice given to the commission by the assembly, and thereafter went to court to stop the assembly from interfering with the activities of the commission.
Meanwhile, the 72- hour ultimatum given to the RSIEC chairman, and his commissioners to appear before the state House of Assembly expires today.
The assembly had earlier given them 48- hour deadline, but extended it to 72 hours, despite a court order obtained by the chairman of the commission stopping the legislators from interfering with the commission’s activities pending the determination of the substantive matter.
The case was adjourned to April 17, 2025.
The assembly had threatened to invoke Section 129 (1) (d) of the 1999 constitution, to issue a warrant of arrest if the chairman of the RSIEC, and his commissioners fail to honour the invitation.
