The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has declared the seats of 25 lawmakers vacant after their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court’s decision, pending the resolution of an ongoing lawsuit, prohibits Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule from acting as Speaker and bars the 24 lawmakers from representing the state.
Justice Charles Wali issued the order in response to a suit filed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and others, seeking resolution to the legislative crisis. Defendants include Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and several others.
The court’s interim injunction restrains the lawmakers from conducting legislative activities or holding sessions until the substantive case is resolved. Additionally, it prohibits the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Chief Judge, Simeon Amadi, from interacting with the affected lawmakers.
The ruling, slated for July 1, 2024, marks a significant development in Rivers State’s political landscape, underscoring the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional principles. Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding legal saga.
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