…LP seeks by-election as 27 lawmakers’ defections face legal scrutiny
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned to January 21, 2025, to rule on applications in a suit filed by the Labour Party (LP), seeking to declare vacant the seats of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit, numbered FHC/PH/25/2024, questions the legality of the lawmakers’ defections, alleging that the move by the legislators, said to be loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was improper.
In addition to seeking a ruling on the defection issue, the LP is also requesting the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats, thereby allowing the LP and other interested parties to participate.
At the hearing on Wednesday, the court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obele, saw the presence of Hilda Dokubo, the LP’s Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State, who is the claimant in the suit.
During proceedings, Ferdinand Orbih, counsel for the second to 28th defendants—including embattled Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and the PDP—made a submission seeking to consolidate the various motions in the case.
Orbih argued that the defendants’ applications shared common subject matter and urged the court to allow the consolidation of the applications, which would then be followed by the exchange of pleadings and presentation of evidence.
“We respectively pray for your order consolidating the three applications,” Orbih stated, presenting affidavits to support his motion.
However, the claimant’s counsel, Clifford Chukwu, did not object to the consolidation but strongly opposed the motions filed by the defence.
Chukwu called for the dismissal of the motions filed by the first to 29th defendants, arguing that they lacked merit.
After hearing the arguments from both parties, Justice Obele adjourned the matter until January 21, 2025, for a ruling on the various applications filed in the case.