A Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has directed all parties involved in the legal dispute over the defection of 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members to maintain the current situation until the substantive appeal is heard. Reports from Ajapareporter.com indicate that the 27 legislators, led by Martins Amaewhule, switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering a legal contest over the legitimacy of their positions. The lawmakers sought judicial intervention to prevent their seats from being declared vacant....CONTINUE READING
The three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, which convened virtually on Friday, postponed the hearing of the main case to June 20, 2024, and advised all parties to avoid any actions that could affect the case’s outcome. This appeal follows a Rivers State High Court ruling that the defected lawmakers had forfeited their seats and should vacate their positions. The High Court also recognized Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker of the House of Assembly and nullified all legislation passed by the 27 defectors.
Oko-Jumbo contended that the defections were invalid under Section 109 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that a member loses their seat in the legislature upon leaving the party they were elected under. The Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo preserves the current composition of the Rivers State House of Assembly until the appeal is resolved.
