|By Adejumo Adekunle-
- Legislators Cite Supreme Court Ruling
- Pro-Wike Lawmakers Accused of Political Impersonation
- Speaker Oko Jumbo Remains in Control
A coalition of opposition lawmakers has reaffirmed that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, have forfeited their seats.
In a statement on Friday, spokesperson Ikenga Ugochinyere declared that former Speaker Martin Amaewhule and his 27 associates remain ousted and must cease presenting themselves as lawmakers.
According to the legislators, the affected members lost their positions when they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite the absence of any internal crisis within PDP to justify their defection. They emphasized that courts of competent jurisdiction, including the Supreme Court, have validated their removal.
They stated, “The desperation for political relevance and unchecked access to public funds has driven the pro-Wike group into becoming a political disturbance in Rivers State. Their benefactor can no longer sustain their extravagant demands, yet Amaewhule and his ousted colleagues continue to impersonate lawmakers.”
The opposition lawmakers further criticized the persistent efforts of the sacked legislators and their backers to misinterpret the Supreme Court ruling, asserting that no verdict reinstated them. They recalled that the 27 lawmakers openly declared their defection, swore affidavits to support their move, were formally welcomed into the APC, and even celebrated the switch with a party-sponsored dinner.
“Now that their gambit has failed, they are attempting to deny their well-documented defection. No amount of press conferences can alter the reality that these lawmakers remain sacked unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise,” the statement added.
They also noted that the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of an appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the former Assembly leadership under Amaewhule, has been misrepresented. The justices struck out the case following its voluntary withdrawal by Fubara’s legal team, citing that unfolding events—including the full implementation of the 2024 budget—rendered the case irrelevant.
Additionally, they stressed that Hon. Oko Jumbo remains the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, maintaining firm control of the legislative arm, while Amaewhule and his group remain ousted.
