Defection: APP To Appeal Court Ruling On ‘Sacked’ 27 Rivers Lawmakers

The Action People’s Party (APP) has vowed to appeal the Federal High Court judgement declaring the defection of 27 Rivers State lawmakers as a pre-election matter.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit instituted by APP against the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who insisted on retaining their seats in the House having defected from PDP to APC against the provision of the law.

In a statement, the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Uche Nnadi, rejected the ruling, insisting that the defectors remained sacked until a higher court rules otherwise.

He stated that the court ruling contradicted the constitution, questioning how someone who hasn’t won an election can be considered a lawmaker and then defect, even before being elected.

Nnadi added that the party was already filing an appeal and that Uche Oko-Jumbo remains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

He said, “So, decampment is now a pre-election matter? That’s not what the constitution says. On the abuse of court process, the pending cases in that Federal High Court before Justice Omotosho were aimed at stopping the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“No court has declared that the illegal decampment of the sacked lawmakers is valid. They can’t come in through the back door. The matter is being appealed. Based on existing court rulings, Oko Jumbo remains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he stated.