The Coalition of G60 Federal Lawmakers has clarified that the declaration of seats for the 27 sacked Rivers State lawmakers remains valid and has not been nullified by any court in Nigeria.
Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the G60, stated that the Appeal Court did not overturn the decision that declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.
The controversy stems from an interim injunction issued on May 10 by Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court. The injunction restrained the lawmakers, who had defected from the political party that sponsored their elections, from parading themselves as members of the Assembly.
The suit, filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, argued that the ousted Speaker Martin Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers had ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.
Justice Wali upheld the case of the plaintiffs and barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative duties.
However, the appellate court ruled that the Rivers State High Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to issue such an order. The ruling emphasized that under Section 272(3) of the Constitution, only the Federal High Court has the authority to determine whether the seat of a House of Assembly member has become vacant.
Reacting to the appellate court’s decision, Ugochinyere stressed that the pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats remain vacant. He clarified that the Appeal Court did not address the validity of their defection but focused on jurisdiction, asserting that only the Federal High Court can decide on the legality of the lawmakers’ decampment.
“The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The 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,” Ugochinyere said.
He reiterated that the actions taken by the Assembly, formerly led by Ehi, in declaring the seats vacant, have not been nullified. Jumbo remains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
“The legal fireworks continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject to pending litigation,” Ugochinyere concluded.