The Supreme Court has reserved its ruling on five appeals related to the political crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly the defection of 27 lawmakers.
After hearing arguments from all parties, the court announced that it would set a date for its judgment at a later time.
A key issue in the case is Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s challenge to the legitimacy of Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the Assembly. The leadership dispute stems from a political rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Amaewhule and his faction are aligned with Wike.
Fubara argues that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers lost their seats when they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed an appeal filed by Fubara concerning the presentation of the 2024 budget before the Amaewhule-led Assembly. Fubara’s legal counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), withdrew the appeal, stating that it had become irrelevant.
The court’s final ruling is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State.
