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COURT AFFIRMS PRO-WIKE LAWMAKERS AS MEMBERS OF PDP, SAYS RIVERS GOVT IS BOUND BY LAWS THEY MADE
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has affirmed that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, are still members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Delivering judgement in Port Harcourt on Monday, Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court, held that the claimants failed to prove that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Gbasam further held that membership of a party is only proven by being listed on the party’s register, or by membership card, adding that television ceremonies and or verbal statements, were not enough to show the same.
Interestingly, the PDP had filed a motion to be joined in the case, and was added as the fourth defendant.
Justice Gbasam further held that the Rivers state government is bound to obey all laws passed by the Assembly, as they are still members of the PDP hence, their names are still in the PDP’s membership register as provided by the party.
He further posited that the state government is bound by the laws made by the Assembly, as they are still members of the PDP, and as such, haven’t lost their seats.
Peoplesvoice recalls that another Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had on Friday, May 30, declared the seats of the 26 lawmakers vacant pending the determination of a suit before it.
The court ordered the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, to stop parading as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and barred the lawmakers, who werere Anti-Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of the state, from posing as lawmakers in the state.
