Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, known as the “G60,” have called on sacked Rivers lawmakers to respect the Court of Appeal’s decision and avoid putting undue pressure on the judiciary. Speaking to the press in Abuja, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) emphasized the clarity of the constitutional provision which mandates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they defect to another party without fulfilling specific conditions, such as party division or merger.
Ugochinyere stated that the 28 former members of the Rivers State Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) did so in violation of the constitution and thus remain sacked unless a competent court rules otherwise. He highlighted the need for adherence to constitutional provisions to avoid a constitutional crisis that could undermine democracy.
The lawmaker also addressed the issue of Local Government Chairmen whose tenures have expired, urging them to vacate their offices to maintain peace. He clarified that the tenure of a Local Government Chairman is explicitly defined in the Constitution and cannot be extended by other laws or policies unless the Constitution is amended.
He called on the residents of Rivers State to remain vigilant and prevent former lawmakers and Local Government Chairmen from misrepresenting themselves as current officials. Ugochinyere stressed that national discussions should prioritize issues like security, food prices, and environmental concerns rather than the actions of a few politicians.
The appeal court in Abuja recently vacated the order that had sacked 25 members of the Rivers House of Assembly who defected to the APC. The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to issue such an order. This decision overturned the previous ruling by Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court, which had restrained the lawmakers from acting as members of the Assembly due to their defection from the party that sponsored their elections.
The appeal by the embattled Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and his colleagues argued that the state high court had overstepped its jurisdiction with the restraining order.