In a significant legal development, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an interlocutory injunction on Wednesday, preventing the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the House of Assembly from continuing their legislative activities. The order, granted by Justice C.N. Wali, effectively stops the pro-Wike lawmakers from functioning as members of the state legislature.
This decision comes in the wake of a suit filed by the Assembly faction loyal to Governor Siminilayi Fubara. The Rivers State Assembly has been divided since last October, following the breakdown of relations between Governor Fubara and his predecessor and political mentor, Nyesom Wike. The split resulted in two factions: one led by Amaewhule, with 24 lawmakers loyal to Wike, and another by Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Fubara’s loyalists.
The political crisis escalated when the pro-Wike lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). In response, the PDP filed a court action seeking to declare their seats vacant, arguing that the lawmakers no longer represented the party on whose platform they were elected.
The APC has reacted strongly to the court’s injunction, which followed a similar ex parte order issued on May 10. The latest ruling restrains the 25 pro-Wike lawmakers from conducting any legislative business, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The injunction also prevents Governor Fubara and the Attorney General of Rivers State from engaging with the pro-Wike lawmakers in any official capacity.
Reacting to the ruling, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuke Ikenga, alleged judicial compromise and executive interference. He accused Justice Wali of bias, suggesting that the judge had been influenced by the executive branch, represented by Governor Fubara. “We do know that there is an integrity question on Justice C.N. Wali. We are not unaware that they have all been compromised, particularly himself and a few others,” Ikenga stated.
Ikenga further criticized the judiciary for purportedly taking decisions outside the law for financial gain. He suggested that the Amaewhule-led lawmakers should consider appealing the ruling, citing a previous judgment by a Federal High Court that recognized the legitimacy of their faction. “There is a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court by Justice Omotosho, which clearly stated that the House of Assembly that Hon. Martin Amaewhule leads is legally constituted and that nobody, including the governor, should tamper with their existence,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has welcomed the court’s decision. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joseph Johnson, praised the ruling, asserting that it would bring much-needed stability. “The court has made a pronouncement, and they have no choice but to obey until the motion is heard. The law has spoken, and once the law speaks, rascality must cease,” Johnson remarked.
The political and legal battle continues to unfold, with the next court hearing scheduled for July. Both factions remain at odds, highlighting the intense political rivalry and the ongoing struggle for control within the Rivers State Assembly.
