A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set January 21, 2025, as the date to deliver its ruling on a case brought by the Labour Party (LP) regarding the defection of 27 lawmakers.
The lawmakers, originally elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year amid political turmoil in Rivers State.
The Labour Party contends that the defecting lawmakers, who are loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, should forfeit their seats in the State Assembly due to their change of party affiliation. The party has requested the court to declare the seats vacant and mandate fresh elections to replace them.
In the suit, numbered FHC/PH/25/2024, the Labour Party challenges the legality of the defections and calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize by-elections for the affected seats.
Separately, the court will hear arguments on December 10, 2024, in a related case filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo and three other lawmakers loyal to current Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. These pro-Fubara legislators are seeking an order to bar the 27 defecting lawmakers from being recognized as members of the State Assembly.
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