The Nigerian Senate has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct Rivers State ‎rerun elections not later than Dec.10 or plenary sitting will be suspended‎‎ indefinitely.

The Senate is upset however, that the state does not have representation at the National Assembly.‎‎

This was contained in a point of order raised by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who revealed that the non representation of the entire people of rivers state is a breach of section 14 subsection 2(C) of the 1999 constitution.

While supporting his c‎olleague at Thursday plenary, Senate leader Ali Ndume expressed worry over inconclusive elections in the country, a trend he observed “could jeopardise Nigeria’s Democracy.”

He said: “Today we are taking deliberations without any Senator from River State. It could be any of us as in the case of River State, imagine a state like mine ravaged by insurgency without a representation.”

Contributing to the motion, a lawmaker from Edo South, Senator Matthew Urhoghide admitted that “there is no other way we can input inhuman treatment than what INEC is doing in River State,” saying that “we should take note of the place of democracy in what we do.”

The lawmakers observed that Rivers State has no representation at the National Assembly, denying the constituents of adequate representation in governance. ‎

The motion was widely accepted by senators who endorsed it after Ekweremadu and Ndume rounded off their speeches.‎‎

•Photo shows Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

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