A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt adjourned ruling in a suit filed by the Labour Party in Rivers State against the alleged defection of lawmakers of the Rivers State House Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, and 26 others had reportedly announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Emmanuel Obile gave the adjournment to April 16, 2025, after counsel representing the parties adopted their final written addresses in a fresh application by counsel for Martin Amaewhule and 26 of his colleagues, Ken Njemanze (SAN).
Njemanze had asked the court to change their earlier prayer of striking out a defection suit against the Speaker and the 26 others to dismiss the suit, following the judgment of the Supreme Court, which touched on the legitimacy of the lawmakers.
He insisted that failure of the court to dismiss the suit would amount to rewriting the judgment of the apex court.
The oral request of Njemanze (SAN) was not opposed by counsel for the LP, Clifford Chukwu.
Chukwu, however, argued that the issue of defection was a collateral issue in a matter decided by the Supreme Court and asked the court to strike out the application of the defendants.
He argued that the deponent to the affidavit of the defendants is a lawyer whose name also appears on the suit, against the practice, and asked the court to hear the matter on its merit.
Justice Obile, after hearing from the parties, adjourned to April 16, 2025, for ruling on the motion.
