Rivers Assembly Crisis: Court stops INEC from conducting by-elections to replace Wike’s loyalists

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The Government High Court in Abuja has issued a ban on Nigeria's electoral body, INEC, from conducting by-elections to replace the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly whose seats were declared vacant. The order was given by Judge Donatus Okorowo on Friday, and a copy of the decision was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday night. Last Wednesday, a factional speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, declared the seats of the 27 legislators vacant after they defected from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). While Mr. Ehie is supported by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the faction led by Martin Amaewhule is loyal to Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a former governor.

The FCT minister accuses his successor of undermining the PDP's control over Rivers State's political structure, leading to a fierce political battle between Messrs. Wike and Siminalayi. Mr. Ehie obtained a temporary order through an ex-party application from the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, allowing him and three of his colleagues who are loyal to Governor Fubara to carry out legislative activities without interference from the Amaewhule-led group.

However, in an attempt to prevent any by-elections from being held to fill their seats, the Wike-backed group of legislators, through their lawyer, Peter Onuh, filed an ex-party application on December 13, urging the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Rivers State House of Assembly, INEC, and the PDP from taking actions that could undermine their rights. Additionally, Mr.

Amaewhule and his group, who are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, asked the court to prevent the State Security Service (SSS), the Inspector General of Police, and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from denying them their legislative rights.

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