Rivers AG denies court declaration of 26 lawmakers loyal to Wike as PDP members
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The Attorney General of Rivers State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dagogo Israel Iboroma has said that there was no declaration by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, to the effect that Martin Amaewhule and 26 others said to be loyal to Barrister Nysom Wike are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Iboroma in a statement made available to newsmen clarified that the news that the court affirmed the lawmakers were still members of PDP and RSHA was misleading, adding that the information was meant to deceive the public.
Speaking further in the statement, Iboroma explained that the suit in question did not seek to declare the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others in Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.
According to him, it was struck out on issues of jurisdiction.
The statement reads, “As Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 3rd defendant in SUIT NO DHC/20/CS/2024, my attention has been drawn to a recent judgment. This suit did not seek to declare the seat of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others in Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.
“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.
“There is misleading news circulating in social media, print and electronic media that Martin Amaewhule & 26 others are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
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“As you all know, Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of 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 these is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No. PHC/512/CS/2024 restraining Martin Amaewhule and his co-travelers from further parading or presenting themselves as law makers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date.
“We urge the public to disregard the news presently making rounds in social, print and electronic media to the effect that Martin Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
