The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has set August 21 as the date to deliver a ruling on the legal representation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit filed by the BOOT Party against Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defecting lawmakers, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, have been embroiled in a political tussle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over control of the state’s political structure.
The BOOT Party’s suit challenges the legitimacy of Amaewhule and his colleagues to remain in the State Assembly after defecting from the PDP.
In a twist, the PDP and the pro-Fubara Assembly have also filed a suit challenging the membership of the pro-Wike lawmakers.
The Federal High Court had initially barred Amaewhule and the others from parading themselves as lawmakers, but the Court of Appeal overturned the decision, reinstating them.
At the resumed hearing, the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), sought to resolve the issue of legal representation, asking the court to bar Joshua Musa (SAN) from representing the PDP and scrap all processes filed by him.
Ajibade argued that he has the sole right to oversee the party’s legal affairs, citing two judgments from a Federal High Court.
Musa, however, urged the court to disregard Ajibade’s submissions, describing the documents presented as unsigned and concocted.
Justice E.O. Obele adjourned the case to August 21 to rule on the rightful person to represent the PDP.
Outside the courtroom, Ajibade insisted that the national leadership of the PDP was aware of the defections and that the seats belonged to the PDP, emphasizing that only the national headquarters could sponsor candidates.
The legal battle highlights the intense political rivalry in Rivers State, with implications for the control of the political structure and the fate of the defecting lawmakers.
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