Court Takes Action on Defection of 27 Lawmakers Loyal to Wike

• The Federal High Court has fixed a date to deliver judgment on the alleged defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly
• The lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule were accused of dumping the PDP for the APC and have lost their seats in the Assembly as a result
• In the suit, the Labour Party, which is the applicant, asked the court to dismiss the defendant's request that the Supreme Court uphold their positions

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Port Harcourt, Rivers - The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, has announced April 16, 2025, as the date to deliver its verdict on the suit concerning the potential dismissal of a defection suit filed by the Labour Party against the 27 lawmakers in the Rivers state House of Assembly.

The Labour Party is asking the court to declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant over the allegation of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amaewhule asks court to dismiss defection suit

During the hearing on Monday, March 17, the defence lawyer and Speaker, Martins Amaewhule asked the court to dismiss the application, citing the Supreme Court judgment.

The defendant also presented the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court, noting that the apex court has restored the leadership of the Amaewhule assembly. He also noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who earlier initiated the defection allegation, had withdrawn the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

On his part, counsel to the Labour Party, Clifford Chukwu submitted that the defection was a 'collateral matter' before the Supreme Court, and urged the lower court to dismiss calls to to strike out the matter. He said the evidence of defection was already before the court.

What Supreme Court says about Rivers assembly

On February 28, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no evidence that the lawmakers had actually defected from the PDP to the APC. It then ruled that the status quo with the state assembly should be maintained.

The Supreme Court also held that the remained members of the house and the state allocation should be seized until the governor represents the appropriation bill before the constitutionally recognised state house of assembly.

LP counsel speaks on Rivers lawmakers' defection

Speaking after the court ruling later in the day, Chukwu explained that he had presented his submission and that only the judgment of April 16, 2025, would determine whether the prayers of the defendants would be upheld or not.

The political crisis in Rivers State started barely six months after Governor Fubara took over from Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The two political gladiators are fighting over the control of the state's political structure. The 27 lawmakers involved in the court case were said to be loyalists of Wike.

Rivers lawmakers' defection: Analyst questions rule of law

Daniel Akinlami, a public policy analyst, has expressed concerns over the unfolding legal battle regarding the alleged defection of 27 Rivers state lawmakers.

“I suspect that the rule of law may not be able to anchor all the events that are springing up. I see the side that has more power taking advantage, which is the 27 lawmakers backed by Wike and the federal forces,” Akinlami told Legit.ng.

He noted that the pending judgment from the Federal High Court remains crucial in determining the fate of the lawmakers.

“Notwithstanding, we are waiting for that Federal High Court judgment on their defection issue," he said.

Akinlami also hinted that the judiciary might not provide a fair resolution, citing concerns over political influence in Nigeria’s legal system.

“When your opponents are telling you to go to court in Nigeria, it's as if your case is sealed - because they are already at the court waiting for you to come," he added.

Rivers lawmakers raise allegations against Fubara

Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Fubara was accused of frustrating the move by the state House of Assembly to put an end to the political crisis.

Martin Amaewhule, from a faction loyal to the immediate past governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, raised the allegation against the embattled governor.

The House alleged that the governor's claim that he sent a letter to them was ridiculous and challenged him to present a copy of the document.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a public policy analyst for this report.