The Court of Appeal has scheduled today, Thursday, July 4, to deliver the long-awaited judgment in the case between Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers and Victor Oko-Jumbo-led legislators.

It was gathered that the outcome of the judgment would significantly settle the political imbroglio in Rivers and reduce tension in the state.

The matter scheduled for judgment was listed as the only event in the cause list for Thursday by the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division, a copy of which was sighted by the Nation.

The appeal was based on the Interlocutory Injunction of the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which recognised Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker.

Justice Charles Wali of the State High Court also ordered Amaewhule and 24 others to stop parading themselves as speaker and lawmakers of the state House of Assembly.

But Martins Chike Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers, approached the Court of Appeal praying it to vacate the order to allow them to return to their functions as the state lawmakers.

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, while refusing to stay the execution of the order, decided to hear the matter and give judgment.

The three-member Appeal panel comprised Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada, Justice Hamma Akawu, and Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu, however, ordered the parties involved in the crisis to maintain the status quo.

The expected judgment would determine whether the ousted elected local government chairmen would renew their battle for a six-month tenure elongation granted them by the Amaewhule-led lawmakers.

The tenure elongation controversy has caused serious tension in the polity, especially as the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara, who described it as unconstitutional, decided to inaugurate caretaker committee chairmen screened and confirmed by the Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers to run the affairs of the councils.

Sensing violence and possible bloodshed, the police decided to take over the councils’ secretariats pending the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

The caretaker committee chairmen had continued to run the councils in makeshift offices, it was gathered that the police would vacate the secretariats after the judgment.