Despite denial of defection, Rivers APC insists lawmakers loyal to Wike have dumped PDP, Vow to protect its members   

Despite denial of defection, Rivers APC insists lawmakers loyal to Wike have dumped PDP, Vow to protect its members 

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has vowed to do everything within its powers to protect its members in the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the speaker, Hon Martins Amaewhule, against the activities of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

 

The lawmakers had on December 11, 2023 dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC citing leadership crisis at the national level of the party.

 

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Thereafter, the Hon. Edison Ehie-led faction of the House, which is loyal to Fubara, declared the seats of the 25 members who defected to the APC vacant and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-election in their respective state constituencies.

 

Ehie, who represented Ahoada-East 2 Constituency in the House, resigned both his membership of the House and factional Speakership position on December 31, 2023 and was later appointed Chief of Staff to the governor.

 

However, another factional speaker of the House, Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, emerged on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 and thereafter obtained an interim injunction from a Rivers State High Court, restraining Amaewhule and 24 others from parading themselves as members of the House of Assembly.

 

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But, addressing newsmen after the unscheduled visit of stakeholders to the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters yesterday, the APC caretaker committee chairman in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, said the visit to the quarters was unplanned.

 

Okocha said: “You can see how Rivers Leaders thronged out in their numbers, unbargained, unplanned, to visit the Assembly quarters. It goes to show the world that Rivers State is one that is united.

“The Speaker has taken his stand to continue to carry out his legitimate functions and has given us a synopsis of what transpired when Governor Sim Fubara, in his Gestapo and commando style, with thugs, harassed the Assembly members.

 

“Leaders have spoken as leaders of the state. I want to narrow it down to the party (APC) 27 of the members of the State Assembly are our property, and we owe them a responsibility to do everything to protect them.

 

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“At every twist and turn, Governor Fubara, who is the chief lawbreaker of the state, will come out publicly claiming to be supporting Mr. President, in a bid to continue to curry political patronage and capital. It is not true; it is a fluke!”

 

He frowned at the attempt by the governor to emasculate the legislature by proclaiming what he calls an executive order to bring the Assembly to the Government House, thereby fusing the legislative and the executive arm into one.

 

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A viral video has confirmed the defection of the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, his deputy, Dumle Maol and others from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

According to a letter signed by Maol and read by Amaewhule, their “defection was necessitated by the division in the PDP, particularly, the tussle around who the National Secretary of the party”.

Although there was no information on the date the letter was written, it appears to be in December 2023 when the lawmakers publicly defected to the APC.

 

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Amaewhule had stated that their action was in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which allows serving legislators to defect if there is a division in the party upon which they hold the House of Assembly.

 

However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, has since granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule and others from parading themselves as legislators.

This was after Victor Oko Jumbo, the lawmaker Representing Bonny State Constituency emerged as the new Speaker of the state assembly.

 

Justice Charles N. Wali gave this order in a case in suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024, filled by Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, Orubienimigha Timothy and other members of the Assembly.

 

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Despite the overwhelming evidence, Amaewhule and the other ex-lawmakers have filed an application at the Rivers State High Court denying their defection from the PDP.

 

This was as a legal practitioner, Dr Malachi Onyema, said that Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association, which includes the right to join or leave a political party.

 

Onyema further claimed that Amaewhule and his colleagues were still PDP members as they had an afterthought of their actions.

 

But the Centre for Accountability and Good Governance said Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution clearly states that a lawmaker who defects from the party that sponsored their election to another party can be deemed to have vacated their seat.

 

In a statement signed by its Director, Dr Francis Nwogu, the Centre said the defected ex-lawmakers must face consequences for their actions.

 

“Defecting from the political party that sponsored their elections is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by their constituents. It undermines the democratic process and destabilizes the political landscape,” Nwogu added.

 

“We urge the relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action to punish these lawmakers for their anti-democratic behaviour. This includes declaring their seats vacant and initiating legal proceedings against them.

“The Centre believes that holding elected officials accountable for their actions is essential for maintaining the integrity of our democracy. We will continue to monitor this situation and advocate for the rule of law and democratic principles.