The Attorney General of Rivers State, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, has strongly denied claims that Monday’s Supreme Court ruling reinstated 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Iboroma, who was present in the courtroom, insisted that the court’s dismissal of the case – Governor Siminalayi Fubara Vs Martin Amaewhule and 26 others (SC/CV/1701/2024) – did not address the lawmakers’ defection and their status as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He stated that “the Supreme Court did not make any further order whatsoever reinstating Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others as members of Rivers State House of Assembly.”
The case stemmed from a November 2023 lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023) filed by Amaewhule and the others challenging the state’s 2024 budget. However, in December 2023, before the case was resolved, they switched their political allegiances, automatically losing their seats in the House of Assembly according to Section 109, sub-section 1g of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The defection was not an issue in the lawsuit, nor was it addressed in the subsequent appeals,” Iboroma emphasized. “Furthermore, before judgment was delivered, the defectors did not inform the court about their change in party affiliation.”
He also highlighted that the 2024 budget is now spent, rendering the Supreme Court’s decision largely moot. The case was ultimately withdrawn by the appellants, with the court granting the motion to dismiss.
Iboroma, the state’s chief legal officer, urged the public to disregard “the false narrative and propaganda” being spread by Amaewhule and his legal team, calling their claims about the Supreme Court ruling inaccurate.
This case is significant because it showcases the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, where power struggles often revolve around party allegiances and electoral maneuvering. The defections of these lawmakers, who now seek to regain their seats, add another layer of complexity to this already contentious political landscape.
