BREAKING: Court Dismisses Case Against Pro-Wike Lawmakers In Rivers

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit against 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

The case sought to replace these lawmakers due to their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling, stated that the case, filed by the Action People’s Party (APP), was not submitted within the legally permitted timeframe of 14 days. The alleged defection happened in December last year, but the APP only filed the lawsuit on July 12, eight months after the event.

The judge further explained that the lawsuit was an abuse of court process because similar cases about the same 27 lawmakers had already been addressed by the Federal High Court. He noted that previous judgments found no sufficient evidence to prove the lawmakers’ defection, and therefore, requests to replace them had been denied.

Justice Lifu referred to a ruling by Justice James Omotosho, delivered in July, which prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the lawmakers’ seats vacant or organizing new elections to replace them. Since that judgment was not overturned or appealed, it remains legally binding.

Justice Lifu emphasized that it would be improper for him to act as if he were an appellate court reviewing the same issue already decided by another judge of the same court. As a result, he dismissed the suit on these main grounds.

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