The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, has confirmed the filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered on Thursday.
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo stated that the action was necessary because the Assembly "strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024".
On Friday, the Speaker made the explanation while speaking to members in plenary at the temporary facility used for legislative operations in Port Harcourt, as reported by vanguard.
Rt Hon Oko-Jumbo declared himself the genuine Speaker because Rivers State cannot have two Houses of Assembly.
The Speaker reiterated that the seats of Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers remain vacant, as declared by the then-Speaker, Rt Hon Edison Ehie, on December 13, 2023, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.
"Rivers State, like every other state in Nigeria, cannot have two Houses of Assembly. This is the only House of Assembly in Rivers State, and I am the Speaker.
"As the whole world knows, on December 11, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.
"On December 13, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared Martin Amaewhule's and 24 other RSHA seats vacant. That declaration by the Right Honorable Edison Ehie has not been overturned by any Nigerian court."
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo explained that the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly obtained a restraining order against Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others for continuing to parade as RSHA members despite their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC and their seats being declared vacant.