Rivers APC rejects exparte order recognising Hon. Edison as Speaker
…Threatens to petition NJC
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State said it has rejected an Exparte Order granted to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt recognizing Hon Edison Ehie, former Majority Leader of the State Assembly as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt,the Caretaker Committee(CTC) Chairman of APC, Chief Tony Okocha said the party under his watch has rejected in its entirety the Exparte Order granted one
Okocha, who described the order as “Jankara Judgement,” vowed to petition National Judicial Council (NJC),if the judge refuses to reverse himself.
The CTC Chairman said the same matter is before a Federal High Court and for another High Court to have entertained it and went ahead to grant an Ex Parte Order, amounts to abuse of judicial process.
He alleged that the motive of granting such “frivolous order” is to pave the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2024 budget to four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a House of thirty one (31) members, 27 members Monday dumped PDP for APC.
Okocha alleged that Justice Danagogo is a younger brother to the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Rivers State,Dr Tammy Danagogo and as such granted the Exparte Order in bad faith, to favour PDP.
Recall that an attempted impeachment bid on Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House Assembly believed to be loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike had triggered legal suits from several fronts.
Former Leader of the State Assembly, Hon. Edison Ehie had approached the court to recognise him as the authentic Speaker of the House and bar Hon Amaewhule from parading himself as Speaker or disrupt proceedings of the House under his Speakership.
Hon. Martin Amaewhule had on the other hand suspended Hon. Ehie as Leader of the Assembly and sought court injunction to uphold his action.
