As reactions continue to trail the proposed increase in the number of electoral constituencies in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry has called for patience and understanding among the people of the state.
Hon. Harry made this appeal yesterday when the INEC Committee on Delimitation of Constituencies, currently on a visit to the state, paid a courtesy visit on him at the House of Assembly chambers.
He urged those who have reservations and comments to forward their proposals and suggestions in form of memo to the committee for consideration rather than nursing the feeling of being marginalised.
Hon. Harry noted that the exercise was an on-going process, adding that he was optimistic that at the end of the committee’s assignment, all the ill-feelings and sentiments earlier perceived may have been addressed.
The speaker thanked the INEC committee for the visit, and assured them of support while in the state.
Earlier, the INEC team leader, Mr. Ekpenyong Nsa thanked the speaker and members of the state Assembly for the warm reception extended to him and his entourage.
Mr. Ekpenyong disclosed that the 1999 Constitution and the 2006 Electoral Act mandate the INEC to redefine the electoral constituencies across the country after eleven years.
He said, in a bid to realise this constitutional obligation, INEC constituted a technical advisory sub-committee which comprises the academia and civil servants for effective delimitation of constituencies.
Mr. Ekpenyong said that they were in the state Assembly to acquaint the lawmakers with the proposed interim report of the technical sub-committee on the constituency delimitation, as it affects the state.
He said the committee, while in the state, would have consultations and interactive sessions in the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that the outcome of the interactive sessions would help the committee to make their final inputs on the delimitation of constituencies in the state.
“To effect the implementation of the proposed constituency delimitation in the state calls for interactive sessions with the aim to have inputs that would help the commission have a successful constituency delimitation in the state,” he said.
The leader of the committee, Mr. Ekpeyoung further disclosed that the number of seats in the state Assembly was supposed to be 40 against the present 32 seats, noting that the present exercise by INEC would address the injustice meted against the state.
