Opposition Lawmakers in the House of Representatives under the aegis of the ‘G60’ have urged sacked Rivers lawmakers not to put undue pressure on the judiciary.

The group’s spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo), made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He reacted to the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal on the 25 members of the Rivers House of Assembly who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and their seats were declared vacant.

Mr Ugochinyere said, “We are saying that we cannot continue to keep quiet. Constitutional crisis over time has led to the collapse of our democracy. So, all these crises and the pressure they are putting on the judiciary to interpret what is clear to all of you are not necessary.

“Section 109 (1G) is automatic. It goes into effect at the very moment you moved when there was no division; you can go to court to prove that there was a division, but they are not doing that, and there is no judgment or ruling in that aspect.”

The lawmaker said that local government chairpersons in Rivers whose tenure had expired and wanted to remain in office should vacate their offices in the interest of peace.

Mr Ugochinyere said discussions in the country should focus on security, food prices, and other environmental issues, not just a few politicians.

On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal court vacated the order that sacked 25 Rivers House of Assembly members who defected to the ruling APC.

In a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of justices on Thursday, the appellate court held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.

It upheld the appeal lodged before it by the lawmakers led by the embattled Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.

Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had, on May 10, issued an interim injunction that restrained the embattled lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike from parading themselves as members of the assembly, having defected from the political party that sponsored their elections.

The court order followed a suit filed by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who subsequently emerged as the parliament speaker.

The litigants, who are loyal to Governor Siminialayi Fubara, in their suit, contended that Mr Amaewhule and the 24 other defected lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.

While upholding the plaintiffs’ case, Justice Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

However, dissatisfied with the verdict, Mr Amaewhule and his colleagues approached the appellate court to set it aside.

They argued that the state high court acted beyond its jurisdiction when it issued the restraining order against them. 

(NAN)