The Rivers State Assembly, on Tuesday, approved Governor Nyesom Wike’s request to sack six commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. And on Wednesday, the lawmakers confirmed the appointment of five of the six RSIEC commissioner nominees forwarded to the legislative house by the Governor.
After considering the nominees, 17 lawmakers present in the house voted in favour of the confirmation of Reginald Amadi, Professor Jones Jaja, Rev. Innocent Karibo, Florence Amaesimaka, and Mr. Etete Festus Josiah.
The speaker of the house, Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani when announcing the confirmation of the nominees, said that the house has not confirmed the nomination of Professor Ozioma Epkete. The speaker did not mention a particular reason for the decision. He said “the house has taken a deep breath on her confirmation.”
The commissioners are expected to work towards conducting a Local Government Elections for the state.
The All Progressive Congress in Rivers State criticized the move by the PDP-led state Government. They said it is an intentional attempt to undermine the ongoing court processes related to the sack of 22 Local Council chairmen by the Rivers State Governor in 2015. The chairmen were elected in an election held in May 2015 before the end of Rotimi Amaechi's tenure as Rivers State Governor.
