The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a new turn as Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared that the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC have lost their seats in the State House of Assembly.
In a statement released on Friday, Eze emphasized that Governor Siminalayi Fubara will not represent the state budget to the defected lawmakers. He asserted that these lawmakers are no longer legitimate members of the Assembly, following their defection on December 11, 2023.
The crisis in Rivers State has escalated in recent months, with the latest blow coming from a Court of Appeal ruling in Abuja. The court upheld a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the presentation and approval of the 2024 Rivers State budget. This ruling was based on the fact that 27 lawmakers, who had defected from the PDP to the APC, had no legal standing to pass the budget.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the original Federal High Court ruling in January 2024, invalidated the budget passed by these lawmakers, arguing that their defection rendered them ineligible to remain in office. He also instructed Governor Fubara to re-present the budget to the House under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, one of the defected lawmakers.
However, Eze rejected this interpretation, stating that Amaewhule and the 26 other defected lawmakers had automatically vacated their seats upon defecting, as mandated by Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution. This section stipulates that lawmakers who switch political parties without justifiable reasons automatically lose their seats.
In his statement, Eze highlighted that the 27 lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as soon as they defected to the APC. According to him, their defection on December 11, 2023, triggered constitutional provisions that lead to an automatic loss of their seats, without the need for a court order.
Eze criticized the ongoing political maneuvering in Rivers State, accusing certain politicians of using the judiciary to wield power. He described the political crisis as a deliberate effort by some individuals to destabilize the state.
“The defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers was not an issue in the recent Court of Appeal ruling,” Eze clarified. “By law, they are no longer members of the Assembly, and Governor Fubara will not legitimize them by presenting any budget before them.”
The court ruling has placed Governor Fubara in a difficult position. The order to re-present the budget to the defected lawmakers could potentially spark a political firestorm, particularly with tensions already high between factions loyal to Fubara and those aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Eze pointed out that President Bola Tinubu had earlier intervened in the political standoff, calling on all parties to withdraw their court cases to allow for a peaceful resolution. While Fubara complied with Tinubu’s directive and withdrew his legal challenges, the defected lawmakers did not follow suit. Instead, they pursued their case and secured a favorable ruling from the court.
This refusal to back down has further complicated the political landscape in Rivers State. Eze expressed concern that the ongoing political battles are being driven by personal ambitions rather than the interests of the people of Rivers State.
Eze also called on the judiciary to exercise caution in handling politically charged cases. He warned that the judiciary must avoid becoming entangled in the power struggles of self-serving politicians, as this could damage its credibility and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
He urged the courts to focus on delivering sound judgments based on the merits of the law, rather than technicalities. “The judiciary must not allow itself to be dragged into the mud by politicians seeking to manipulate the system for their own gain,” Eze said.
Eze did not hold back in his criticism of former Governor Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of orchestrating the political turmoil in Rivers State. He urged Governor Fubara to stand firm and resist any attempts to intimidate or harass him through the courts or political pressure.
“There will be serious consequences if Rivers people fail to wrestle the state from the grip of Wike,” Eze warned. “Governor Fubara must not yield to intimidation, betrayal, or judicial harassment.”
He also called on President Tinubu to ensure that Rivers State is not destabilized by the actions of one individual. Eze emphasized that the stability of the state is crucial to its development and that the ongoing political battles are hindering progress.
In his closing remarks, Eze appealed to the people of Rivers State to remain calm and not be drawn into the political crisis. He urged them to go about their normal lives, assuring them that the legal battles surrounding the defection of the 27 lawmakers are still pending in court.
“The people of Rivers State should not allow themselves to be distracted by the political drama unfolding in the state,” Eze said. “The matter is still before the courts, and justice will ultimately prevail.”
