The Rivers State government has clarified reports regarding a declaration by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt about the status of 27 State Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, clarified on Monday that no court declared that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, loyal to the immediate past governor, Nysom Wike, were still members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Iboroma, who is the 3rd defendant in Suit No. DHC/20/CS/2024, in a statement, urged the public to disregard the report, as it was misleading and meant to deceive the public.

The state attorney said, “The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

He stated, “As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December 2023, and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.

“By Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.

“However, you will recall that there is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers from further parading or presenting themselves as lawmakers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date,” he stated further.