The Rivers State government has refuted reports claiming that a state High Court in Port Harcourt declared 27 lawmakers, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, clarified that the court case in question did not seek to declare the seats of Amaewhule and the other lawmakers vacant.
In a statement, Iboroma said:
“As Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 3rd defendant in SUIT NO DHC/20/CS/2024, my attention has been drawn to a recent judgment. This suit did not seek to declare the seat of Martins Amaewhule and 26 others in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.”
He explained that the suit was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction and the claimants’ lack of legal standing.
“The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.”
Iboroma also emphasized that any reports suggesting that Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers were confirmed as PDP members by the court are false:
“There is misleading news circulating in social media, print, and electronic media that Martins Amaewhule & 26 others are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
This clarification aims to address and dispel any misinformation regarding the status of the lawmakers and the court’s decision.”
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