The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday struck out a suit by the Labour Party (LP) seeking to vacate the seats of 27 Rivers lawmakers accused of defecting from the PDP to the APC . Justice Emmanuel Obile dismissed the case, citing a February 28 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legitimacy of Speaker Martins Amaewhule’s leadership and noted Governor Sim Fubara’s withdrawal of defection claims in a separate Abuja case .
Defense lawyers argued the apex court’s decision “resolved all issues,” while LP counsel Clifford Chukwu countered that defection remained a “collateral matter” requiring trial . Amaewhule’s aide, Martins Nwachukwu, confirmed the verdict on social media, cementing a victory for the pro-Wike faction amid the state’s raging political crisis .
The ruling preserves the status quo in Rivers’ divided assembly, where Amaewhule’s bloc loyal to FCT Minister Wike continues to clash with Governor Fubara’s camp .
