The speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, who is part of the pro-Fubara faction, has spoken out following an appeal court decision that he and other lawmakers cease acting as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He brought attention to the fact that the Court of Appeal had failed to uphold the innocence of Amaewhule and the other twenty-four individuals, nor had it validated their membership in the House of Assembly of Rivers State. After Martins Amaewhule defected, he said, the Court of Appeal made a mistake by ruling that the Rivers State High Court did not have the authority to hear and decide the case.
In a video that was reported by Channels TV, he stated, "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." The seats of Martin Amaewhule and twenty-four others in the Rivers State House of Assembly were declared vacant on December 13, 2023, by Honourable Edison Edie, in his capacity as Speaker of the Assembly.
No Nigerian court has yet to vacate Edison Ehie's verdict on the 25 lawmakers. Even though Martins Amaewhule and the other twenty-four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected from the PDP to the APC and their position was declared empty, they persist in presenting themselves as members.
There was no finding by the Court of Appeal that Martins Amaewhule and the other twenty-four individuals did not defect from the PDP to the APC. They remain unnamed as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, according to the Court of Appeal. We firmly feel that the decision of the Court or Appeal on the lack of jurisdiction by the Rivers State High Court to hear and decide on Suit number PHC 1512 CO 2024 was incorrect.