Showdown Looms as Lawyers Challenge Rivers Assembly’s Ultimatum to RSIEC Chairman, Offer to Train Speaker, Lawmakers on Legislative Duties

A legal battle is brewing between the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) and the Rivers State House of Assembly as the former has formally challenged the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the latter to the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). 

ALDRAP also offered to provide pro bono training for the Speaker and his colleagues on legislative duties.  

In a Pre-Action Notice addressed to the Speaker of the House, ALDRAP, through its legal representative, Kenneth Amadi, of Ibuchim Chambers, demanded that the Assembly withdraw the directive, arguing that it violates constitutional provisions on fair hearing. 

Citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the case of El-Rufai vs. House of Representatives (2003), Amadi contended that legislative invitations require a minimum of seven days’ notice under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018.

The legal practitioners warned that failure to comply with this requirement would prompt court action against the Assembly.

They further criticized the ultimatum as an overreach of legislative authority, stating that such actions undermine democratic principles. 

“We are in a democracy, not a dictatorship wherein ultimatums are issued without regard to the relevant laws”.

Amadi stated, while offering to provide free legislative training to the Assembly members to ensure they act within the limits of the law. 

With tensions mounting, all eyes are now on the Speaker and the House to see whether they will rescind the ultimatum or face legal proceedings.

Recall that the Assembly had earlier today issued a 48 hour summon to the Chairman of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli to appear before it to answer to charges of misconduct.

It went further to threaten him with an arrest warrant should he fail to appear before it, a posture concerned watchers of the development deem as a display of arrant dictatorial tendencies by the Assembly.

Further recall that the same crop of lawmakers had allegedly pursued legal processes to truncate the said elections all in a bid to achieve the extension of the tenure of the erstwhile chairmen of the LGAs whose tenure has long elapsed.