Court Declares 25 Rivers Assembly Seats Vacant

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the seats of 25 members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) void pending the outcome of a matter before it.

The court further ordered the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule to stop acting as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and barred the 24 members who are all opposed to the state’s governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from posing as lawmakers.

Hon. Justice Charles Wali issued the order in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, filed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, and Hon. Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, about the state’s legislative arm problems.

The defendants in the suits include Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, Hon. Dumle Maol, Hon. Major Jack, Hon. Franklin Uchenna Nwabochi, Hon. Christopher Kagbang Ofiks, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington, Hon. Ngbar Bernard, and Hon. John Dominic Iderima.

Others are Hon. queen Uwuma Tony Williams, Hon. loolo Isaiah Opuende, Hon. abbey Peter, Hon. Igwe-obey Aforji, Hon. Justina Emeji, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka, Hon. cheezies Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Prince Nyeche, Hon. Barile Nwakoh, Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, Hon. Davids Arnold Okobiriari, Hon. Nwankwo Sylvanus Hon. Gerald Oforji, and Wami Solomon.

The second group of defendants in the complaint are the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi.

Wali, in the Interlocutory Order, restricted the members, who support Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, from acting as parliamentarians until the substantive case was resolved.

The order read, “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the 1 to 25th Defendants from parading land 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 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 howsoever interacting with the 1at to 25th Descendants 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 this case is adjourned to 1st July 2024 for Mention.”