The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim injunction preventing Speaker Martin Amaewhule and his affiliated lawmakers from continuing to convene or identify themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
This ruling, issued by Justice C.N. Wali, comes in response to a legal action initiated by lawmakers aligned with Governor Siminilayi Fubara. The group, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and including Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy, sought to restrain the aforementioned lawmakers.
As per the court documents, the lawsuit names 25 lawmakers as defendants, alongside the Rivers State Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge. This legal action follows a prior order issued on May 10th, based on an ex parte motion, which prohibited any interactions between the Governor, Attorney-General, Chief Judge, and the said lawmakers.
Granting the interlocutory injunction, the court said, “An order of interlocutory injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road Port Harcourt or at any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or however interacting with the 1st to 25th defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
That case was adjourned to July 1 2024 for mention.
In December 2023, 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress amidst the political crisis between Wike and Fubara.
Amaewhule and the defecting lawmakers, led by him, attributed their decision to leave the PDP and join the APC to the internal conflicts and divisions within the party.
The question of whether they will retain their seats in the house has sparked intense debate, with critics arguing that the constitution dictates they should vacate their positions.
