Court declares 27 defected lawmakers are still members of PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still counts 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to a ruling by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.

On Monday, Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt’s Justice Okogbule Gbasam declared that the claimants had failed to provide proof that Martin Amaewhule and the other twenty-six legislators had defected to the APC.

Judge Gbasam underlined that having a membership card or being listed on the party register proves one’s party membership; verbal pronouncements or events broadcast on television do not qualify as proof.

The PDP was added as the fourth defendant in the case after requesting to be included.

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Justice Gbasam also stressed that since the members are still affiliated with the PDP and their inclusion in the party’s membership register counts as a determining element, the Rivers State administration is required to follow all legislation passed by the Assembly.

Additionally, he stated that since the members of the Assembly have not relinquished their seats and are still members of the PDP, the state government is bound to uphold the legislation made by the Assembly.