The Rivers State Government has strongly condemned a planned press conference by some National Assembly lawmakers and former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing it as an attempt to mislead the public on the true situation in the state.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, the government accused the group, led by former Speaker Martin Amaewhule, of distorting facts regarding their status as lawmakers. The statement reaffirmed that Amaewhule and 26 others automatically lost their seats after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on December 11, 2023.
Citing legal precedents, including Supreme Court judgments, the government emphasized that under Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, any legislator who defects from the party under which they were elected immediately forfeits their seat. The government maintained that since no court ruling has overturned their defection, the former lawmakers have no legal standing to act as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The statement further clarified that the January 22, 2024, judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja did not address or validate their status as lawmakers. Instead, the ex-lawmakers allegedly concealed their defection from the court, rendering the judgment inapplicable to their case.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the statement noted, remains law-abiding and committed to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. The government urged President Bola Tinubu, the judiciary, security agencies, and the Nigerian public to disregard any misleading narratives from the former lawmakers, emphasizing that the rule of law must be respected in Rivers State.
The Rivers State Government assured citizens of continuous updates as necessary and reaffirmed its dedication to peace, stability, and constitutional governance.