Rivers Govt Insists Defection Issue Remains Unresolved After Supreme Court Verdict

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Rivers State government maintains that the issue of lawmakers’ defection is still unsettled. Read more on the political tension.

The Rivers State Government has announced that it is waiting for a detailed briefing on the consequences of the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning state allocations and local government administration.

In a statement on Friday, Joe Johnson, the Commissioner for Information, announced that the government will conduct a thorough evaluation of the situation once they receive detailed information. This assessment is aimed at determining the next steps to best serve and protect the interests of both the state and its residents.

He encouraged the residents of Rivers State to stay calm and adhere to the law, continuing with their daily routines as the government pursues further clarification on the ruling.

Johnson, however, explained that the defection issue involving the 27 lawmakers is not before the Supreme Court at this time; it is currently under review by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

“The commissioner stated, ‘We are currently awaiting a detailed briefing on the implications of the judgment. Once we have it, we’ll thoroughly assess the situation and decide on our next steps to ensure they serve the best interests of Rivers State and its citizens.’”

He stressed that, in this context, the Justices still regarded Martin Amaewhule and the other 26 individuals as lawmakers.

He stated, “Because the defection issue wasn’t presented to the learned justices, they consider Amaewhule and the 26 others to still be acting as lawmakers until that matter is brought before them.”

The commissioner reiterated the Rivers government’s dedication to maintaining the rule of law and safeguarding the state’s best interests in every matter.

In its decision on Friday, the highest court also prohibited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from distributing funds to Rivers State’s government until it rectifies what has been described by the court as a blatant disregard for court orders.