Pro-Fubara Speaker Reacts As Court Stops Him From Parading Himself As Rivers State Speaker
Dave Ikiedei Asei
05/07/2024
. Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo
The Pro-Fubara Group Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has addressed the public following an Appeal Court ruling that directed him and other lawmakers to cease presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Oko-Jumbo clarified that the Court of Appeal did not establish whether Martins Amaewhule and 24 others had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC). Furthermore, the court did not confirm their status as legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He emphasized that the Court of Appeal made an error in asserting that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the issue concerning Martins Amaewhule's status post-defection.
In a video reported by Channels TV, Oko-Jumbo stated, "As the whole world knows, on December 11, 2023, Martins Amaewhule and his 24 colleagues defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress. On December 13, 2023, Honourable Edison Edie, then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others vacant."
Oko-Jumbo further explained that this declaration by Edison Edie regarding the 25 lawmakers has not been overturned by any court in Nigeria. Despite their defection from the PDP to the APC and the subsequent declaration of their seats as vacant, Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others have continued to present themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
"The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others did not defect from the PDP to the APC. The Court of Appeal also did not affirm that they are still members of the Rivers State House of Assembly," Oko-Jumbo continued. "We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal erred when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine Suit number PHC 1512 CO 2024."
Oko-Jumbo's statement underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding the status of the defected lawmakers and the jurisdictional authority of the courts involved. The declaration by Edison Edie, which deemed the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant, remains a critical point of contention.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Court of Appeal's ruling has left significant questions unanswered regarding the legitimacy of the lawmakers' defection and their current status within the Rivers State House of Assembly. This ambiguity has allowed Amaewhule and his colleagues to continue operating under the assumption that they retain their legislative positions.
Oko-Jumbo's remarks highlight the complexities of political defections and the legal interpretations surrounding them. The assertion that the Court of Appeal misjudged the jurisdiction of the Rivers State High Court introduces a potential avenue for further legal challenges and appeals.
In summary, Victor Oko-Jumbo's response to the Appeal Court ruling brings to light critical issues of legal jurisdiction and the interpretation of political defections. His statement emphasizes that the declaration of vacant seats by Edison Edie has not been legally overturned, and he maintains that the Court of Appeal's ruling on jurisdiction was erroneous. The ongoing legal and political uncertainty continues to affect the dynamics of the Rivers State House of Assembly, with significant implications for the involved lawmakers and their respective parties
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