Court Bars INEC From Conducting By-Elections To Replace 27 Lawmakers in Rivers

THE Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC, has been barred from organising by-elections to replace 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly whose seats were declared vacant.

A group of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, had last Wednesday declared vacant the seats of 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja also barred the defendants in the case from interfering with the 27-member camp of the Rivers State House of Assembly from conducting their legislative duties as speaker, deputy speaker, and members of the parliament.

Justice Okorowo restrained the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) “from denying or refusing to provide security to the 27 Lawmakers or withdrawing their security details”.

He subsequently adjourned the suit to December 28 for hearing.