The Rivers State Government has reacted to a report that a court has declared a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 26 others as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Assembly.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Iboroma (SAN), revealed the stand of the government.
In a statement on Monday, Iboroma a Rivers State High Court did not declare Amaewhule and the 26 others as members of the PDP and Assembly.
He said the news was meant to deceive members of the public, adding that the suit, in which he was the third defendant, did not seek to declare the seats of Amaewhule and the 26 others vacant.
He said the suit was struck out on issues of jurisdiction.
Iboroma said: “The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
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“As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December, 2023, and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.
“By Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.
“However, you will recall that there is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers from further parading or presenting themselves as lawmakers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date.”