Federal Lawmakers Refute Claims on Appeal Court Decision Regarding Sacked Pro-Wike Lawmakers
On Thursday, Federal Lawmakers from the G-60 clarified that the Appeal Court did not void the decision to declare the seats of 27 Pro-Wike sacked lawmakers vacant.
The opposition lawmakers asserted that the declaration of the seats remains valid and has not been nullified by any Nigerian court.
G60 spokesperson Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere stated that the 27 sacked Rivers state lawmakers remain removed from office.
Previously, on May 10, Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court issued an interim injunction restraining the sacked lawmakers, loyal to former Governor and current Minister Nyesom Wike, from parading as Assembly members after they defected from their sponsoring political party.
The injunction followed a suit filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who subsequently became the Speaker of the Assembly.
The plaintiffs argued that Amaewhule and other defected lawmakers ceased to be Assembly members on December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant. Justice Wali upheld this view, barring the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly or performing legislative duties.
However, the appellate court ruled that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction in the matter, responding to a suit by the former lawmakers led by ex-Speaker Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
Reacting in Abuja, Ugochinyere emphasized that the Appeal Court did not rule on the validity of the lawmakers’ decampment or the declaration of their seats vacant, focusing instead on jurisdictional issues.
Ugochinyere clarified that the vacant seat declarations remain valid and subject to ongoing litigation.
“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 decampment or the declaration of their seats vacant.
“Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with jurisdiction over the legality of decampment, thus ruling against the Rivers High Court proceedings.
“The actions of the House led by Ehi in declaring the seats vacant have not been nullified by any court. Ok Jumbo remains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the legal battle continues over the vacant seat declarations.
“Additionally, local government chairmen whose terms have expired cannot have their tenures extended. There is no provision for tenure extension in a democratic setting; it would be akin to a coup against constitutional governance.”
