Appeal Court Ruling Does Not Reinstate Amaewhule Faction, Rivers AG Insists

PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Attorney General, Israel Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, has categorically denied that Thursday’s Appeal Court decision in Abuja reinstated the Martin Amaewhule-led faction in the State House of Assembly.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt, Iboroma clarified that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers automatically lost their seats when they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.

Iboroma emphasised that the issue of their defection was never raised in legal proceedings before the Federal High Court or the Court of Appeals.

As a result, no court has deemed the defection sufficient to justify their continued membership in the Assembly.

The statement went on to detail the case’s history, including the failed impeachment attempt against Governor Wike, the House’s subsequent polarisation, and the filing of lawsuits by both factions.

It noted that the Governor followed President Tinubu’s directive to withdraw the state’s case, whereas Amaewhule and his faction pursued their legal battle, eventually obtaining a judgement against the Governor.

The Attorney General clarified that the Appeal Court’s decision was specifically about the 2023 Appropriation Law and the National Assembly’s potential takeover of the state’s legislative functions.

The ruling made no mention of Amaewhule and his group’s defection or their current situation.

He also revealed that Governor Wike has instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgement to the Supreme Court and seek a stay of execution in order to maintain the status quo.

“We urge the good people of Rivers State to ignore the purveyors of fake news,” Iboroma concluded, emphasising that the Amaewhule faction is still ineligible to hold office due to their defection.