Rivers: Sacked Pro-Wike Lawmakers seats Remain Vacant -Opposition Lawmakers
Mercy Adi
The opposition federal lawmakers under the aegis of G60 have said that the seats of the 27 sacked Rivers state lawmakers remain vacant, and have not been nullified by any court in Nigeria.
The Spokesperson of the G60 lawmakers, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, speaking during a press briefing, clarified that the Appeal Court did not void the declaration of the seat of 27 Pro-Wike sacked lawmakers vacant.
This is a sequel to the appellate court, ruling on a suit lodged before it by the former lawmakers, led by the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of pAssembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule on Thursday, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order that restrained the sacked lawmakers parading themselves as members of the Assembly, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.
Recall,that following a suit that was filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who subsequently emerged as the Speaker of the Assembly, Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had on May 10, issued an interim injunction that restrained the sacked lawmakers loyal to the immediate past Governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as members of the Assembly, having decamped from the political party that sponsored their elections.
The litigants, in their suit, contended that Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant. While upholding the case of the plaintiffs, Justice Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the Court Ruling on Thursday, the spokesperson of G60 lawmakers, Ugochinyere stressed that the Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seat remains vacant as Appeal court didn’t decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seat vacant.
According to him, the Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.
He said: “The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seat remains vacant as Appeal Court didn’t decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant. Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.
“So the actions of the House formerly led by Ehi in declaring the seat vacant have not been declared null and void by any court. Ok Jumbo remains the speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, the legal fire works continues, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.
“Also the local government Chairmen whose tenure have since expired remains expired and can’t be extended and was never extended. There’s nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting, it’s like a coup taking over constitutional governance.”
