The Pro Fubara Group Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo has broken the silence after the Appeal Court orders him and other lawmakers to stop parading themselves as the Rivers State House of Assembly members.
He identified that the Court of Appeal did not affirm that Amaewhule and the 24 others did not defect from the PDP to the APC, nor did it confirm their status as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He further stated that the Court of Appeal erred when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit on Martins Amaewhule's status after their defection.
He said in a video reported by Channels TV, ''As the whole world knows, on the 11th of December 2023, Martin's Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress. On the 13th day of December 2023, Honourable Edison Edie as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and the 24 others in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.
The declaration made Edison Ehie on the 25 lawmakers has not been set aside by any Court in Nigeria. Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others in spite of their defection from the PDP to the APC, and their seat was declared vacant, they still continue to parade themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martins Amaewhule and the 24 other did not defect from the PDP to APC. The Court of Appeal also did not say that they are still members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We strongly believe that the Court or Appeal was in error when it held up hat the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the Suit number PHC 1512 CO 2024.''