Lawyer urges INEC to organize elections for 27 vacant Rivers Assembly seats

A legal perspective on the recent political turmoil in Rivers State comes from Calabar-based lawyer Justice Osai Ahiakwo, who advocates for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections for the 27 vacant seats in the State House of Assembly. This follows the defection of lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) just over a week ago.

In an exclusive interview, Ahiakwo emphasizes the need for the concerned party to formally approach INEC, invoking constitutional and electoral laws to set a date for a new election. He acknowledges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s involvement, praising the application of alternative dispute-resolution (ADR) mechanisms to encourage the conflicting parties to find common ground.

According to Ahiakwo, the President’s intervention aligns with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and he commends the bold step taken to ease the heightened political tension in Rivers State.

The lawyer advises the involved parties to withdraw any pending legal cases, asserting that doing so would nullify the contentious issues before the courts. He underlines the robust nature of the legal system, emphasizing the importance of withdrawing cases to bring closure to the disputes.

Ahiakwo clarifies that no court has issued a final judgment on the ongoing cases. He points out that the perceived judgments are interlocutory orders, restraining actions by either the defected lawmakers or the Executive Governor of the State until the final determination of the civil actions.

In conclusion, Ahiakwo’s perspective offers insight into the legal intricacies surrounding the Rivers State political imbroglio and emphasizes the importance of following due process for resolution.