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COURT FIXES APRIL 16 TO RuLE ON DEFECTION CASE AGAINST PRO-WIKE LAWMAKERS
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set April 16, 2025, as the date for its ruling on an application regarding the dismissal of a defection case filed by the Labour Party against 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The case concerns the lawmakers, who allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Labour Party is seeking to have their seats declared vacant.
During the hearing, counsel representing the lawmakers, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, urged the court to strike out the case, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment.
He presented a Certified True Copy of the ruling, noting that the Supreme Court had reinstated the Amaewhule-led Assembly leadership.
He further argued that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who initially made the defection allegations, had already withdrawn them at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, counsel for the Labour Party, Clifford Chukwu, countered that the issue of defection was a “collateral matter” before the Supreme Court.
He urged the court to consider the existing evidence rather than dismissing the case based on the Supreme Court’s ruling.
It is worth recalling that on February 29, 2025, the Supreme Court held that, in the absence of concrete evidence, no legal defection had taken place, thereby maintaining the existing structure of the Assembly.
Speaking after the court proceedings, Chukwu expressed confidence in his arguments, stating that the final decision on April 16 would determine the court’s stance on the matter.
The case remains significant in the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, as it could impact the Assembly’s composition and legislative authority.
