The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on five appeals concerning the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly. The court announced that the ruling date will be communicated later.
Governor Fubara Challenges Lawmakers’ Legitimacy
Governor Siminalayi Fubara is contesting the legality of Martin Amaewhule’s position as Speaker, arguing that lawmakers who defect from their party should automatically lose their seats under the Nigerian Constitution.
During the court proceedings, Fubara’s legal team asserted that Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers, who allegedly moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), no longer have legal standing as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The constitution is clear on what happens when lawmakers defect without a division in their party. We expect the Supreme Court to uphold the rule of law,” a lawyer representing the governor stated.
However, the defected lawmakers argued that their decision was justified due to internal conflicts within the PDP. Their legal representatives maintained that they acted within their constitutional rights.
Supreme Court Dismisses Fubara’s Budget Appeal
In a separate development, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal challenging the re-presentation of the 2024 state budget before the Assembly led by Amaewhule.
The governor’s legal counsel, Yusuf Ali, withdrew the case, stating that recent political developments had made the appeal unnecessary.
“We have carefully reviewed the situation and decided that pursuing the appeal is no longer necessary,” Ali explained.
Political Tensions in Rivers State
The ongoing legal battle has intensified political tensions in Rivers State, with rival factions claiming control over legislative affairs. The Supreme Court’s impending verdict is expected to determine the fate of the defected lawmakers and the leadership structure of the Assembly.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.