Rivers Assembly Ordered by Court to Maintain Status Quo Amid Defection of 27 Lawmakers

All parties to the appeal filed by supporters of FCT minister Nyesom Wike from the Rivers State House of Assembly have been ordered by a Port Harcourt Appeal Court to uphold the status quo until the substantive matter is heard.

Under the leadership of Martins Amaewhule, the 27 MPs who supported Wike had left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They had been in court to block attempts to have their seats declared vacant.
After virtually convening on Friday, the appeal court’s three-member bench postponed the substantive issue hearing until June 20, 2024.

The appeal panel additionally requested that the defendants receive the notice of appeal prior to the next adjourned date, and cautioned the parties from taking any acts that could impact the primary matter.

Read Also: Pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers Assembly await judgement from Appeal Court today

Amaewhule is contesting the Rivers State High Court’s ruling, which removed their seats and barred them from serving as legislators, on behalf of twenty-six additional people.

Additionally, the state High Court upheld Victor Oko-Jumbo’s position as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and declared that Amaewhule and 26 other legislators’ measures were all invalid.

According to Oko-Jumbo, the 27 lawmakers who defected have forfeited their seats in the State Assembly as a result of their actions.

Section 109 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution serves as the foundation for his reasoning.