The Rivers State Government has made it clear that the recent Appeal Court judgment in Abuja does not reinstate the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the state House of Assembly. In a statement from Port Harcourt, the Attorney General, Israel Iboroma, emphasized that Amaewhule and 26 others had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on December 11, 2023, leading to their automatic loss of seats in the Assembly.
Iboroma clarified that the matter of their defection was never addressed in the Federal High Court or the Court of Appeal, insisting that no court has validated their membership following this defection. He stated, “By operation of law, particularly Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, they automatically lost their seats.”
He also highlighted the subsequent actions taken by the Governor of Rivers State, who presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the House led by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, which was passed into law. This was a crucial move for the governance of the state amid the political turmoil.
Following the Court’s decision, there have been misconceptions about the status of Amaewhule and his faction. Iboroma urged the citizens to disregard any misleading information, saying, “This is patently false.” The defection was not part of the court’s determination, and the Governor is prepared to take the matter to the Supreme Court for further clarity.
As the situation unfolds, it’s essential for the people of Rivers State to stay informed and aware, resisting the sway of fake news.
