Rivers Assembly: Court dismisses Labour Party suit challenging legitimacy of 27 lawmakers

Simisola AdigunApril 16, 2025

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A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party in Rivers State challenging the alleged defection of the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule and 26 others.

The presiding judge, Justice E.A. Obile, ruled on Tuesday that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, citing a binding decision by the Supreme Court delivered on February 28, 2025, which had already addressed the issue.

Justice Obile held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on a matter that had been conclusively determined by the Supreme Court.

Counsel for the defendants, Ken Njemanze, had in his final written address urged the court to dismiss the suit in light of the apex court’s ruling, which upheld the legitimacy of the lawmakers.

In its suit, the Labour Party sought a declaration that the lawmakers’ defection was unconstitutional under Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and requested their seats be declared vacant, a case that has sparked significant political tension in Rivers State, with questions raised over the legality of the assembly’s composition.

However, Justice Obile ruled that matter has already been finally decided by a court and cannot be relitigated.