APP Tells Pro-Wike Lawmakers: Endless Ultimatums Won’t Reverse Your Defection

The Action Peoples Party (APP) has advised the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers State, warning that their repeated 48-hour ultimatums to Governor Siminalayi Fubara will not change the fact that they are no longer lawmakers until the legal issue surrounding their defection is resolved.

The political situation in Rivers State took a new twist on Monday when the 27 lawmakers issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara, demanding that he re-present the state’s 2025 budget.

However, in a statement from APP’s National Chairman, Barr. Uche Nnadi, the party expressed support for Governor Fubara’s decision to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling but made it clear that this did not include the reinstatement of the lawmakers, as their defection case is still pending in the Appeal Court.

Nnadi stated, “I urge the pro-Wike sacked lawmakers to stop issuing endless 48-hour ultimatums. It will not change the fact that they are no longer lawmakers until their defection case is decided. While we support the governor’s decision to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict, it does not include reinstating the sacked lawmakers, as their case is still before the Appeal Court.”

He further explained, “The Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of the defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the case is still being heard at the Appeal Court. It was surprising that the Apex Court seemed to legitimize lawmakers whose defection is still a matter of litigation.”