Rivers N’Assembly Caucus Insists Amaewhule, Others No Longer Lawmakers

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

In a setback to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Rivers State lawmakers in the House of Representatives, yesterday, insisted that Martin Amaewhule and his colleagues had since ceased to be members of the state House of Assembly. They said this when they paid a solidarity visit to Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and reaffirmed their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

Led by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante of the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, the Rivers State NASS Caucus dismissed claims that the judgement of Justice James Omotosho reinstated Amaewhule and his 26 colleagues.

According to the lawmakers, ”Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 26 others lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly following their voluntary defection on December 11, 2023. Their cross-carpeting happened on the floor of the House in full public view.”

Abiante cited multiple Supreme Court rulings, emphasising that Section 109(1)(g) and Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution made it clear that:

He stated, “Any elected lawmaker who defects from the political party under which they were elected automatically loses their seat.”

Abiante added that since the Supreme Court’s rulings on similar cases had not been overturned, they remained the legal precedent in Nigeria.

“As of December 11, 2023, when Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and his 26 colleagues publicly declared their defection, they ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he said.

He stressed that parading as lawmakers and participation in Assembly activities were illegal and unconstitutional.

The lawmakers dismissed claims that the Federal High Court judgement of January 22, 2024, delivered by Justice Omotosho, validated Amaewhule’s group.

“That ruling did not address their defection or their status as former lawmakers. Instead of presenting the truth before the court, Hon. Amaewhule and his group misled the judiciary with false claims.”