The Supreme Court has taken fresh steps in the ongoing legal battle over the alleged defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The apex court has reserved judgment after hearing five appeals related to the political crisis in the state, with a decision to be communicated to all parties at a later date.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, among other people, is challenging the legality of Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the Rivers Assembly. Fubara and his legal team argue that Amaewhule, along with 26 other lawmakers, lost their seats the moment they defected to the APC. The governor insists that their continued stay in office violates the Nigerian Constitution, which states that any lawmaker who defects from the party under which they were elected must vacate their seat unless there is a division within the party.
The Supreme Court panel sitting on the matter is led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji.
At a previous sitting, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Governor Fubara concerning the re-presentation of the 2024 state budget before the House of Assembly led by Amaewhule. The dismissal followed a request by Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, to withdraw the suit, stating that it had become irrelevant due to recent political developments.
The political crisis in Rivers State has been going on for months, with Governor Fubara locked in a power struggle with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
