Court didn’t declare Amaewhule, 26 defected assemblymen PDP members, Rivers AG clarifies

The Rivers State Government has clarified that the State High Court did not declare that Martin Amaewhule and 26 other pro-Wike lawmakers are still members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr. Dagogo Iboroma (SAN), the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, gave the clarification in a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt.

He said the purported report was misleading, stressing that the information was meant to deceive the public.

According to him, as the 3rd defendant in the suit Suit No. DHC/20/CS/2024, the suit in question did not seek to declare the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant, adding that the suit was struck out on issues of jurisdiction.

He 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.

“As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the People’s 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 People’s 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, however, called on the public to disregard the reports that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared members of the PDP and the Rivers State House of Assembly.