APC Divided over Reinstatement of Pro-Wike Lawmakers by Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, has overturned a May 10, 2024 ex parte order from the Rivers State High Court that barred Martin Amaewhule from serving as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This ruling also nullified the restriction on 24 pro-Wike lawmakers, allowing them to re-enter the Assembly complex and resume legislative duties.

A three-judge panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada upheld the appeal by Amaewhule and his 24 colleagues against Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others. The initial court order, which sought to declare their seats vacant due to defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), was deemed beyond the trial court’s jurisdiction.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has been in disarray since 2023, stemming from a political feud between former Governor Nyesom Wike and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In December 2023, Amaewhule and the 24 lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, exacerbating the divide within the Assembly.

In response to the defection, the state high court issued an order preventing the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly. However, the appellate court’s decision criticized the lack of legitimate urgency behind the ex parte order, thus reinstating the legislators.

This ruling has further deepened divisions within the Rivers State APC. Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and an ally of Wike, praised the decision, asserting that justice had been served. Conversely, the faction loyal to former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, represented by Publicity Secretary Darlington Nwauju, acknowledged the court’s decision but maintained that the defection issue remains unresolved.

Nwauju urged all parties to respect the rule of law and consider taking the matter to the Supreme Court. He condemned recent violent protests associated with the dispute, calling them irresponsible and illogical.

The state government has not commented on the judgment, and key officials were unavailable for responses. However, the National Legal Adviser of the APC, Prof. Abdulkareem Kana, supported the appellate court’s verdict, emphasizing the distinction between political and legal defection.