Defection of 27 Lawmakers: Court Orders Rivers Assembly to Maintain Status Quo

A Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has ordered all parties involved in the appeal filed by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule, had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). They approached the court to prevent moves to declare their seats vacant.

The three-man panel of the appeal court, which conducted a virtual session on Friday, adjourned the hearing of the substantive matter to June 20, 2024. The panel advised the parties against taking any actions that could affect the main issue and further directed that the notice of appeal should be served on the defendants before the next adjourned date.

Amaewhule, representing the 26 others, is challenging the decision of the Rivers State High Court, which vacated their seats and restrained them from performing any legislative functions. The state High Court also affirmed Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and declared all laws made by Amaewhule and the 26 others null and void

Oko-Jumbo contends that the 27 defected lawmakers have lost their seats in the State Assembly due to their defection, based on Section 109 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution.