A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s judgement on the fate of 25 lawmakers who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Factional speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo who confirmed the development while addressing lawmakers during plenary at the temporary facility used for legislative businesses in Port Harcourt yesterday,
said the action was necessitated by the fact that the Assembly “strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024”.
He said he remained the authentic speaker because there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State.
The factional speaker reiterated that the seats of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers remain vacant as declared by the then speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, on 13th December, 2023, following their defection from the PDP to APC on the 11th day of December, 2023.
Oko-Jumbo explained that the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly secured restraining order against Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others when they continued to parade as members of the RSHA despite their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC and their seats declared vacant.
He said they felt dissatisfied with the Rivers State High Court rulings in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS had filed an Appeal No. CA/PH/198/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
