High Court Declares Seats of 25 Rivers Lawmakers Vacant Following Defection

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — May 30, 2024

A High Court in Port Harcourt has declared the seats of 25 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant. The ruling, issued on Thursday, is pending the determination of a suit addressing the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Justice Charles Wali issued the order in Suit No PHC/1512/CS/2024, filed by Victor Jumbo, Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, along with Sokari Sokari and Orubienimigha Timothy. The suit is a response to the turmoil caused by the defections within the state assembly.

The court specifically ordered Martin Amaewhule, the factional speaker, to cease parading himself as the speaker of the assembly. Additionally, the 24 other defected lawmakers were barred from posing as members of the assembly.

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the first to 25th defendants from parading themselves as members of the Rivers House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at Aba Road, Port Harcourt,” Justice Wali stated.

The court further declared, “Their legislative seats are hereby declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

Moreover, an order was issued restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from interacting with or accepting any resolutions or bills from the defected lawmakers. “An order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or interacting with the first to 25th defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the court ruled.

The legislative seats are declared vacant with effect from December 13, 2023, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.

The case has been adjourned to July 1, 2024, for mention, signaling the next steps in resolving the assembly’s crisis.