Court of Appeal Adjourns Rivers State Assembly Judgment Until July 4th

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reserved its judgment in the case involving Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 others against Victor Oko-Jumbo and others. The court has ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and has adjourned the case until July 4th.

The case stems from the ongoing crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly, where 27 members, including Amaewhule, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP had approached the court seeking to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant.

Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had previously ruled that the defected members were still members of the PDP, as their party membership was established through being on the party’s register or possessing a membership card. The court emphasized that televised events or verbal declarations were insufficient proof of party membership.

The Appeal Court’s decision to reserve judgment and maintain the status quo indicates that the court is taking a cautious approach to the case. The outcome of the judgment on July 4th will have significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State.