Rivers Crisis: NJC Asked To Probe State High Court

• Rivers state has been thrown into another legal tussle as the National Judicial Commission has been asked to step into latest developments in the state
• This came after the state high court ruled that the 27 members of the state house of assembly who denounced their membership from the PDP are still members of the party
• Reacting, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability called on the CJN to probe the ruling by the Rivers state high court

Legit.ng journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.

Port Harcourt, Rivers - The National Judicial Council (NJC) has been called upon to immediately begin a probe of the Rivers state high court following its judgment reinstating sacked lawmakers of the state house of assembly.

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Recently, a Rivers state high court ruled that the 27 members of the state house of assembly who moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are still members of the PDP and the assembly.

But reacting, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA), in a statement by its president, Comrade Dada Segun Akin, faulted the court judgement.

The coalition argued that the judgment can only be celebrated by enemies of the judiciary, Rivers state and Nigeria.

How Rivers political crisis started

Recall that in December 2023, 27 members of the Rivers state house of assembly loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, led by the then Speaker of the House, Martin Amawhule, defected from the PDP to the APC.

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In line with the constitutional provision that a legislator who defects should vacate his seat, a Rivers state high court restrained the defected lawmakers from parading as members of the state assembly.

Hon.Victor Oko-Jumbo was then elected Speaker of the assembly with the restraining order.

In a twist, however, a Rivers state high court held that the defected members are still members of the PDP.

NJC urged to step in Rivers crisis

In its reaction sent to Legit.ng shortly after the judgment was delivered, the coalition said:

"We are shocked that the judge arrived at the conclusion that the defected members were still members of the PDP when the members themselves stated reasons for their defection.

"In the letter of defection submitted by Martins Amaewhule and 25 others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 18th, 2023, the members cited division in the PDP as the reason for their defection."

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BREAKING: Fubara loses as Rivers court validates 27 pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats

Amaechi speaks on Wike, Fubara's rift

Legit.ng earlier reported that a former governor of Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi, shared his view on the political crisis in the state.

Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, maintained that his successor, Nyesom Wike, still has grassroots support more than Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He argued that Fubara appeared to be more popular because he was anti-Wike, and many people in the state were tired of Wike.

Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng