Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting fresh elections to fill seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The presiding judge, Donatus Okorowo, delivered the ruling on Friday, responding to a case brought by 26 lawmakers who sought to prevent their replacement.
The controversy stems from the defection of 26 members of the Rivers House of Assembly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who shifted allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11.
READ MORE: Rivers Crisis: New Twist as PDP Takes Action on 25 Defected Assembly Members
Subsequently, Edison Ehie, the Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, declared their seats vacant, prompting the call for fresh elections by the APC.
In response, the affected lawmakers approached the Federal High Court seeking an injunction to prevent their replacement.
The court, in its ruling, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC from conducting new elections for the vacant seats pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the plaintiffs (the 26 lawmakers) in the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the judge held.
The court also barred the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from interfering with the activities of the plaintiffs and “from denying or refusing to provide security to the lawmakers or withdrawing their security details.”
The political upheaval in Rivers State has further escalated tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Wike, leading to factions within the state’s legislature. Amid this crisis, at least nine commissioners have resigned from Governor Fubara’s cabinet.