Election Re-Run: MOTION BROUGHT UNDER MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.

ISSUE: URGENT NEED FOR INEC TO CONCLUDE ALL POSTPONED RE-RUN ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY AND SAFEGUARD OUR DEMOCRACY.

The House notes with great concern incidence of several postponed re-run elections in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers State.

Also notes with dismay the continuous and persistent denial thereby, of such affected Constituencies and her constituents of their constitutionally guaranteed right to representation at the National and State Assemblies.

Further notes that the following provisions in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999 (as amended), namely:

(i) S.48 which provides that the Senate shall consist of three Senators from each State and one from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

(ii) S.49 which provides that subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist of three Hundred and sixty members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one State;

Notes also that the above constitutional provisions are mandatory, thus failure to comply with any of them is unconstitutional.

Aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set up under S.153 (1) (f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999 (as amended), and has power under paragraph 15(a) of Part I, of the third schedule to the CFRN to among other things: “organize, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation”.

Also aware that in the case of Rivers State, the Court of Appeal in December 2015 ordered that re-run elections be conducted within sixty days, but INEC has since consistently failed, neglected and/or refused to do so; apart from the one it conducted on March 19, 2016 in only four out of twelve Federal (and few State) Constituencies that re-run elections were ordered in December 2015.   

Also aware that in March 2015, INEC under Professor Attahiru Jega successfully conducted peaceful elections in Bornu and other Northern East States that were then faced with crisis caused by the activities of Boko Haram; yet the present leadership of INEC has consistently neglected, failed and/or refused to conduct elections in only about Eight Local Governments of Rivers State, citing security concerns.

Concerned that while almost all States of the Federation are adequately represented in Parliament in compliance with SS. 48, 49 and 91 CFRN, 1999, Rivers State continues to be unrepresented, (particularly in the Senate where it has no Senator) due to INEC’s deliberate neglect, refusal and/or failure to conduct outstanding elections in the State. 

Worried that INEC’s action is a clear case of injustice being meted to Rivers State and her people, as they have being denied the right to participate in critical National issues that have come up at the National Assembly, including National Appropriations.    

Resolves to:

(i) Urge INEC to immediately conduct all outstanding elections in Rivers State.

(ii) Mandate the House Committees on Legislative Compliance and Electoral matters to ensure compliance with the House resolution of 23rd June, 2016, as applicable, and that INEC concludes all elections in Rivers State and revert to the House within two (2) weeks, with a confirmed date for the elections.

1. HON. LEO OGOR
2. REP. O. K. CHINDA.
3. HON. BETTY APIAFI
4. HON. KEN CHIKERE
5. HON. BLESSING NSIEGBE
6. HON. PRINCE UCHE NNAM OBI.