Ugochinyere: Pro-Wike Rivers lawmakers remain sacked

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson of the coalition of group of house of representatives members known as the G60 lawmakers, has reacted to the judgment of the court of appeal sitting in Abuja.

The court had vacated the order that sacked 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, on Thursday, held that the Rivers high court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.

It upheld the appeal that was lodged before it by the lawmakers who were led by the embattled speaker of the Rivers assembly, Martin Amaewhule.

The court of appeal sitting in Abuja had set aside the order made by the high court of Rivers restraining the 25 members of the assembly, who allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC from further parading themselves as members of the assembly and conducting legislative businesses.

Recall that Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had on May 10, issued an interim injunction that restrained the sacked lawmakers loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as members of the assembly, having decamped from the political party that sponsored their elections.

The court order followed a suit that was filed by Victor Oko-Jumbo who subsequently emerged as the speaker of the assembly.

The litigants, in their suit, contended that Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers ceased to be members since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.

While upholding the case of the plaintiffs, Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

However, the appellate court, ruling on a suit lodged before it by the former lawmakers who were led by Amaewhule on Thursday, held that the high court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.

Reacting to the court ruling, the spokesperson of G60 lawmakers, Ugochinyere emphasized that the Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seat remains vacant as the Appeal court did not decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seat vacant.

According to him, the Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.

He further stressed that the legal fireworks continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.

He said, “The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seat remains vacant as the Appeal court didn’t decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant. A’Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.

“So the actions of the House formerly led by Ehi in declaring the seat vacant have not been declared null and void by any court. Ok Jumbo remains the speaker of Rivers State house of assembly, the legal fireworks continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.

“Also the local government Chairmen whose tenure has since expired remains expired and can’t be extended and was never extended. There’s nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting, it’s like a coup taking over constitutional governance.”