High Court Declares Seats of 26 Decamped Former Rivers Lawmakers Vacant

Abuja - By Segun AJAYI 

Published Friday May 10, 2024

RIVERS STATE HIGH COURT has declared the seats of former 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly earlier elected on the tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vacant.

The High Court ruling was delivered late Friday afternoon at Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In the ruling, Justice Charles Wali of High Court 19 ordered that the 26 State legislators should not parade and holding themselves as members of Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the auditorium of Rivers State House of Assembly or any other place to purport to carry out legislative functions.

The court further orders that the governor, Attorney General and Chief Judge of Rivers State are restrained from dealing with, interfacing and accepting any resolutions and bills made by the 26 legislators/defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The High Court also ordered that the motion on notice and write of summon should be served on the 26 legislators/defendants by pasting them on the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly legislative quarters. 

The matter was adjourned to May 29, 2024.

The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko Jumbo and  two other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Sokari Good boy Sokari and Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy have instituted the matter in the High Court challenging the 26 legislators  who decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023, having been elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which was said to contravene section 106 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The section forbids crosscarpeting.

Commenting on the ruling, the G60 federal lawmakers representing the Rivers State and some constitutional lawyers said the development of was long overdue and it's victory for democracy.