The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 1st November 2016 mandated INEC to immediately conduct all outstanding elections in the country particularly in Rivers State.

Moving the motion under matters of urgent public importance, the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP:Delta)raised concerns over incidences of postponed re-run elections by INEC. Citing Sections 48 and 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the lawmaker expressed with dismay the failure of INEC to comply with this constitutional provisions that empowers the National Assembly to have representatives for all Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies across the 36 States of the Federation.

Hon. Ogor explained that while most States of the Federation are adequately represented in the National Assembly, the seats for Rivers State continues to remain vacant especially in the Senate where the State has no representatives. He stated that this circumstance had denied the State the opportunity to contribute to critical national issues that have been presented before the National Assembly.

The matter has been referred to the House Committee on Legislative Compliance and Electoral matters who are to confirm the date for the pending elections in Rivers State in their findings and report back within two weeks. It will be recalled that on 23rd June, 2016, the House of Representatives also mandated the said Committees to call on INEC to release outstanding Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)