Former Rivers Southeast PDP senator Olaka Nwogu spoke frankly on Arise TV about the need for the court to hear the defection case in its entirety.
Defection, he made clear, is more than just saying one is leaving a gathering.
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.
He suggested that the people who are challenging this decision file an appeal.
According to Nwogu, the decision by Justice Basam upheld the validity of the affected assembly members.
Defection should only result in the loss of a seat in cases where it violates legal restrictions, he emphasised.
In his words in a video (8:59), he said, "You must allow the defection matter to be thoroughly dealt by the Court. The mere saying that I have left my party is not defection. And Justice Basam has ruled on that. What the Court says is that if you move from your party to the other party, you should lose your seat provided that you didn't follow the provisions of the law. The Constitution says that it should be done by the speaker but there was no speaker available."