According to Punch, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a previous court ruling, reinstating 24 lawmakers aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike to the Rivers State House of Assembly. These lawmakers had switched from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.
The appellate court's decision has stirred controversy within the APC in Rivers State. Tony Okocha, the caretaker committee chairman, welcomed the verdict, asserting that justice had been upheld. However, factions loyal to Rotimi Amaechi disagreed, maintaining that the judgment did not alter the lawmakers' defection from the PDP to the APC.
This development has exacerbated divisions in the Rivers State House of Assembly, which has been mired in crisis since 2023. The lawmakers aligned with Wike announced their move to the APC amid a power struggle between Wike and incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Prof Abdulkareem Kana, the APC's national legal adviser, praised the Court of Appeal's decision, describing it as a definitive stance that was expected. Attempts to reach the Rivers State government and PDP chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, for comment were unsuccessful.