In a recent development, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the Coalition of G60 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, has addressed the media following a ruling by the Appeal Court, as covered by Vanguard.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly in Abuja, Ugochinyere stated that the seats of the sacked Pro-Wike lawmakers from Rivers State remain vacant.
He stated that the Appeal Court did not rule on the legality of the lawmakers' defection or the declaration of their seats as vacant.
Additionally, he clarified that the court did not overturn the decision to declare the seats of the 27 Pro-Wike lawmakers vacant.
The controversy began when Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court issued an interim injunction on May 10.
This injunction barred the sacked lawmakers, who were supporters of the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from presenting themselves as members of the Assembly.
The lawmakers had defected from the political party that sponsored their elections, leading to legal action.
The court order came in response to a lawsuit filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who subsequently became the Speaker of the Assembly.
The suit argued that Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers lost their membership in the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.
Justice Wali upheld the plaintiffs' case, preventing the Pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or performing any legislative duties under the Assembly's name.
However, the appellate court, ruling on an appeal led by former Speaker Hon. Martin Amaewhule and other ex-lawmakers, determined that the Rivers State High Court did not have the necessary jurisdiction to issue the order.
Ugochinyere explained the Appeal Court's decision, noting that it primarily established that only the Federal High Court has the authority to adjudicate matters concerning the legality or illegality of such political defections.
“The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmaker’s seat remains vacant as the Appeal court didn’t decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant. A’Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings,” he said.