Opposition Lawmakers Reject Court Judgment Declaring Rivers 27 Legislators Case As Pre-Election Issue

…Say It’s An Assault On Constitutional Democracy

Nigeria Opposition Lawmakers have rejected the Federal High Court judgement declaring the decampment of 27 sacked Rivers State lawmakers as a Pre-election issue.

The coalition lawmakers, who insisted that the judgement is an assault on constitutional democ­racy, added that nothing will stop Governor Siminalayi Fubara from completing his tenure and even winning a second term if he so pleases.

The group said that Rt.Hon. Oko Jumbo remains the valid Speaker Of Rivers State House of Assembly based on existing High Court judgements and rul­ings recognising as such.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Friday dismissed a defection suit instituted against the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assem­bly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike by Action Peoples Party (APP).

The suit seeking to replace the 27 lawmakers on account of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was dismissed.

Justice Peter Lifu, who de­livered the judgment held that the suit instituted by the Action Peoples Party (APP) was statute barred having not been filed with­in 14 days allowed by law because in his thinking decampment of lawmakers is a pre-election issue.

A judgement which will alter the interpretation of what consti­tutes pre-election since decamp­ment is not among the issues that constitute pre-election.

Reacting to this judgment, the Opposition Coalition Law­makers, at a world press confer­ence by its spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated that the pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats remain vacant because in line with the law, they defected to APC and are no longer members of the PDP.

He added that there are many valid rulings of the High Court that have restrained them from illegally parading themselves as lawmakers and declaring Oko Jumbo as the Valid Speaker of the Rivers State House of As­sembly.

Ikenga said Oko Jumbo re­mains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and they are going to appeal the rul­ing.

“The Opposition considered it very strange and unknown to law that issues of decampment which can happen any time within the four years mandate of a lawmaker has now been declared a pre-election issue that must come within 14 days like primary election.

“The constitution recognis­es issues of pre-election around primary election and not de­campment which can only be established once the court first rules on it before the by-election can be conducted and hence can’t be termed pre-election,” he said.

Expressing optimism that the judgement won’t survive in Appeal Court, the lawmakers, made reference to the High Court judgement months ago barring the 27 sacked lawmakers from parading themselves, adding that it still remains valid and has not been voided by any higher court.

They added that the Local Government election in the state will go on the 5th of October as scheduled and nothing can stop it as the constitution and elector­al act have said no court can stop the conduct of elections.