Mild Drama as Appeal Court Reserves Judgment on Rivers Crisis

The Appeal Court experiences mild drama as it reserves its judgment on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. 

A minor drama unfolded on Thursday at the session of the Special Court of Appeal Panel concerning the political crisis in Rivers. During this hearing, two senior lawyers independently announced their representation for the Peoples Democratic Party in a case aimed at dismissing 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who support Wike.

J. Y Musa revealed his representation for the Umar Damagum-led executive of the PDP, whereas B. F. Folurunsho stated that he was officially assigned to the case by the National Legal Adviser of the party, who possesses authority over all legal matters concerning the organization.

In the meantime, the Special Court of Appeal Panel has postponed its decision on the combined appeals challenging Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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The panel of three justices, chaired by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, declared that the judgment on the appeals would be withheld until further notice. This decision came after both parties’ counsel submitted their briefs and final arguments for consideration in support of or against the appeals.

In a related appeal concerning the Rivers local government election, Justice Lifu ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is prohibited from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for use in conducting the state’s local government elections, which have already taken place.

In a separate case overseen by Justice Lifu, some members of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, who are reportedly loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, brought an issue before the court. In response to this ex parte application, Justice Lifu issued a ruling that prevents the national leadership of the PDP from dissolving newly elected party executives in Rivers State.