The Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly has reminded Hon. Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members of the State House of Assembly that they lost their seats after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, leader of the caucus, Hon. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, also reminded them that the judgement of a Federal High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Omotosho, had nothing to do with their defection to the APC.
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Abiante accused some members of the state Caucus in the National Assembly, who addressed journalists recently of attempting to mislead members of the public.
He said: “Our attention was recently drawn to a visit as well as a press conference by some Rivers State National Assembly members in sympathy with former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and his group-committee of former lawmakers.
“At the press conference, the group claimed ‘to put a stop to the falsehood and misrepresentation of facts on the judgments of courts as it affects the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State.’
“However, contrary to the false claim by the group, the truth of the matter is that the objective of the Press Conference was to mislead the public on the true situation in Rivers State. It thus becomes necessary on our part to set the records straight and put the public in proper perspective, because lies unrebutted soon overtakes the truth. Besides, as Mark Twain once said, ‘A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.’
“To set the records straight, the true position regarding applicability of the judgment of His Lordship, Hon Justice Omotosho in the case Rivers State House of Assembly versus the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023), is as follows:
“The judgment of Hon Justice Omotosho does not touch on the status of Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule and his group of 27 as former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly;
“Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule and 26 others had lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly following their voluntary defection/cross-carpeting which happened on the floor of the House of Assembly in the full glare of the public on 11th December 2023.
“The legal effect of these provisions and the Supreme Court judgments is that, as of 11th December, 2023 when Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule read out the letters of defection of himself and 26 others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, they lost their seats and automatically and mandatorily became former members of the House.
“The only legal implication of the above is that, Hon Martins Amaewhule and his group of 27, remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and accordingly are no longer entitled to parade themselves as members of the House or to partake in any business or affair of the House.
“It is worthy to note that neither the fact of their defection nor any issue relating to their defection nor on their status as former lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly was raised, submitted or discussed in the proceedings leading to the 22 January 2024 judgment of Hon Justice Omotosho.”