Legal group threatens court action over Rivers Assembly’s 48-hour ultimatum to RSIEC Chairman

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has issued a pre-action notice to the Rivers State House of Assembly, demanding the withdrawal of its 48-hour ultimatum to the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

In a letter signed by its solicitor, Kenneth A. Amadi, Esq., ALDRAP contends that the ultimatum violates the principles of fair hearing as outlined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the precedent set in El-Rufai vs. House of Representatives (2003).

The organization argues that, under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018, a minimum of seven days’ notice is required for any legislative summons.

The letter warns that if the ultimatum is not rescinded, ALDRAP will pursue legal action against the Assembly.

“We are in a democracy, not a dictatorship where ultimatums are issued without regard to the law,” the group stated, urging the lawmakers to undergo a re-orientation training workshop to better understand their legislative powers under the Nigerian Constitution.

ALDRAP further offered to conduct such training at no cost to the Assembly.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has yet to respond to the notice.