“Clark Demands Immediate Action from INEC Over Vacant Rivers Assembly Seats”

Elder statesman Edwin Clark has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, to take swift action by conducting by-elections to fill 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA). The vacancies arose following the defection of several lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move Clark argues violates Section 109(1)(g) of Nigeria’s Constitution.

Clark’s letter to Yakubu underscores the impact of prolonged absence from the legislature, stating that it deprives the people of their rightful voice in governance. He condemned the ongoing political strife in Rivers State, asserting that the defections have undermined the integrity of governance in the state.

The situation is complicated further by competing factions within the RSHA. The faction led by Martin Amaewhule contends that their seats remain valid, while the faction headed by Victor Oko-Jumbo maintains that the defectors have lost their positions. Oko-Jumbo expressed frustration with INEC’s delay in organizing by-elections, stressing that the seats vacated by defected lawmakers, including those of Amaewhule and others, are now vacant.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara also weighed in on the matter, declaring that only one RSHA exists, and that it is led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo. Fubara dismissed those who defected as embarking on a “Sinbad journey,” further fueling tensions within the state’s political landscape.

Edwin Clark, however, emphasized the need for INEC to act swiftly, highlighting that the constitutional responsibility to hold by-elections falls squarely on the electoral body. He noted that the Constitution mandates INEC to fill vacant seats, referencing Section 118, which empowers the Commission to conduct elections. Clark argued that INEC’s delay in acting could be viewed as sectional loyalty, which he contends goes against the principles of fairness enshrined in the Constitution.

Clark’s open letter also criticizes the political environment in Nigeria, where he claims key institutions, including the presidency, legislature, and judiciary, are failing to uphold the Constitution. He warned that the continued defiance of constitutional mandates could lead Nigeria down a path toward becoming a failed state, though he expressed hope that the Nigerian people would ultimately defend the country’s constitutional order.

With a sense of urgency, Clark called for the immediate conduct of by-elections to restore adequate representation to the affected constituencies, stressing that any disregard for the law undermines the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy. His plea reflects deep concerns about the erosion of constitutional integrity and the implications of political maneuvering in Rivers State.