RVHA Summons RSIEC Boss, Others Over LG Polls

The Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the state’s Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu, and the commissioners working with the electoral body.

Ahiazu and the commissioners are expected to appear before the lawmakers today to give explanation on the conduct of the May 23 local government elections held in Rivers State.

The chairman of RSIEC and its commissioners were invited through a letter signed by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Emmanuel Odum, to clarify the role they played in the conduct of the council elections.

The chairman and the commissioners were specifically directed to appear before the House with relevant documents that were used for the conduct of the local government polls.

The chairman and top officials serving in the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission were also summoned to appear before the legislators.

It was, however, not clear why the RSJSC chairman and commissioners were invited, even as sources said that it might not be unconnected with the strike action embarked upon by judiciary workers in the state.

The workers had gone on strike on June 9, last year, and called it off on June 1, this year following the swearing-in of an Acting Chief Judge in the state.

Rivers State Governor, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike and members of his family, during his swearing-in ceremony in Port Harcourt, recently.