Former Rivers Southeast PDP senator Olaka Nwogu spoke frankly on Arise TV on the need for the court to hear the defection case in its entirety.
He made it clear that quitting a party is not the same as defecting.
He continued by bringing up a Justice Basam ruling that suggests the state High Court might not have the authority to handle cases involving MPs who defect.
Those who disagree with this ruling should seek an appeal, he said.
Justice Basam's verdict, Nwogu said, confirmed the legitimacy of the affected assembly members.
Defection should only result in the loss of a seat in cases where it violates legal restrictions, he emphasised.
He stated in a video (8:59) that the court should give the defection matter its due process. It is not desertion to simply state that I have departed from my party. That matter has been decided by Justice Basam. According to the Court's ruling, if you switch parties without following the legal requirements, you should be stripped of your position. According to the Constitution, the speaker is supposed to do it, but no one was available to do it.