Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA), through its President, Comrade Dada Segun Akin, faulted the court’s judgement ordering the 27 lawmakers to return to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Coalition condemns in strong terms the judgment delivered by a Rivers State High Court, which ruled that the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are still members of the PDP and Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to the group, the judgment can only be celebrated by enemies of the judiciary, Rivers State and Nigeria.
Recall that, in December 2023, 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, led by the then Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, Martin Amawhule, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In line with the constitutional provision that a legislator who defects should vacate his seat,a Rivers State High Court restrained the defected lawmakers from parading as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
With the restraining order, Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo was elected as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a judgement delivered by a Rivers State High Court, the judge, after striking out the suit based on the preliminary objection, went into the merits and held that the defected members are still members of the PDP.
The group made its position known in a statement sent to TimesNow.com.ng shortly after the judgment was delivered. The statement reads in part:
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
