A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned a suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) seeking to declare vacant the seats of 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling on the applications is scheduled for January 21, 2025.
The LP, represented in suit number FHC/PH/25/2024, is contesting the legality of the lawmakers’ defection and has urged the court to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the allegedly vacant seats. The party argued that this would allow it and other interested parties to contest the positions.
During the court session on Wednesday, LP’s Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State, Hilda Dokubo, was present.
Counsel for the second to 28th defendants, Ferdinand Orbih, representing the embattled Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other parties, informed the court of plans to consolidate their applications. The defendants’ applications primarily sought an order directing parties to file and exchange pleadings and present evidence to support their respective cases.
Orbih submitted motions backed by affidavits, urging the court to consolidate the applications for efficiency.
However, the claimant’s counsel, Clifford Chukwu, while agreeing to the consolidation, opposed the applications submitted by the defence counsel and called for their dismissal.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Emmanuel Obele adjourned the matter to January 21, 2025, for a ruling on the consolidated applications.
