You Have Lost Your Seats In Rivers Assembly, NASS Caucus Tells Pro-Wike Lawmakers
The cCaucus in the National Assembly has issued a stern reminder to Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that they have lost their seats following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing the press in Port Harcourt on Monday, the leader of the Caucus, Hon. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, clarified that the judgment by Hon. Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court had no bearing on the lawmakers’ defection to the APC. Abiante accused some members of the Rivers State National Assembly of attempting to mislead the public regarding the matter.
The National Assembly Caucus leader stated, “Our attention was drawn to a press conference held by some Rivers State National Assembly members in sympathy with former Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and his group of 27 lawmakers. The objective of their press conference was to mislead the public and misrepresent the true situation regarding the judgments of the court.”
Abiante further emphasized that the judgment in the case Rivers State House of Assembly vs. National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023) did not address the status of Amaewhule and his group. According to him, their defection on December 11, 2023, led to the automatic loss of their seats as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He clarified that as of December 11, 2023, when Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers defected on the floor of the Assembly, they lost their seats and thus, they no longer had the legal right to continue as members of the House. Abiante stated that they were no longer entitled to partake in any business or affairs of the Assembly, emphasizing that their status as former lawmakers was not a subject of the court’s judgment on January 22, 2024.
In conclusion, Abiante stressed that Amaewhule and his group of 27 members should stop presenting themselves as sitting members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
