Court refuses to declare seats of Pro-Wike Lawmakers vacant, affirms PDP membership

A Rivers state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are still members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Delivering judgement in Port Harcourt on Monday, in a case filed by Hyacinth Amadi and Godspower Obuah and Tonye Dairus, seeking to declare the seats of 27 lawmakers vacant, Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court held that the claimants failed to prove that the defendants, Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers had actually defected to the APC.

Justice Gbasam further held that membership of a party is only proven by being listed on the party’s register or by membership card and that television ceremonies and or verbal statements aren’t enough to show same.

The PDP had filed a motion to be joined in the case and were added as the fourth defendant.

Justice Gbasam further held that the Rivers state government is bound to obey all laws passed by the Assembly as they are still members of the PDP, hence their names were still in the PDP’s membership register as provided by the party.

He further posited that the state government is bound by the laws made by the Assembly as they are still members of the PDP and as such have not lost their seats.