Pro-Wike Rivers Assembly members remain sacked — G60 lawmakers

Opposition House of Representatives members, also known as G60 lawmakers, have said that the declaration of the seats of the 27 pro-wike sacked lawmakers remained valid and has not been nullified by any court in Nigeria.

The Spokesperson of the Group, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, made the clarification while addressing news in Abuja, insisting that the Appeal Court did not void the declaration of the seat of 27 Pro-Wike sacked lawmakers.

Reacting to the Court ruling, Hon, Ugochinyere stressed that the sacked Rivers lawmakers’ seat remained vacant as the Appeal court did not decide on the validity of their illegal defection 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 defection, 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 to pending litigation.

According to him, “The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers’ seats remain 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 to 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.

“In retrospect, 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 Hon. 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 of the Rivers State House of Assembly since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant. While upholding the case of the plaintiffs, Justice 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 the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule on Thursday, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.

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