The Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other members from the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Rivers State High Court's order for expulsion was declared null and void by a three-member panel of the appellate court.
Channels Television reported that the appellate court found that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction to issue the ex parte order that resulted in the expulsion.
Referring to Section 272(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, the court emphasized that only the Federal High Court has the authority to determine if a seat in a House of Assembly has become vacant.
Any state high court order regarding the vacancy of a House of Assembly seat is considered invalid if issued without jurisdiction.
In the court's ruling, it partly states, "The express mention of the Federal High Court in Section 272(3) of the Constitution automatically excludes all state high courts from having the jurisdiction to decide on such matters."