Confusion has surrounded the political affiliation of Martins Amaewhule and 26 other Rivers State House of Assembly members. Despite reports claiming that a State High Court judgement reaffirmed their membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Rivers State government has issued a statement seeking to dispel these misunderstandings.
The controversy began in December 2023, when Amaewhule, who was then the speaker of the House, along with his colleagues, reportedly defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This defection caused significant tension in the state’s political landscape.
The situation has become even more convoluted because of a recent court case in Port Harcourt.
A Port Harcourt High Court, presided over by Justice Gbasam, ruled on Monday that Martin Amaewhule and 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, are still members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
It is crucial to take note of the Rivers State Attorney General’s assertion that the court made no decisions regarding Amaewhule and the MPs’ continued membership in the PDP. According to him, rather than focusing on the merits of party membership, the court denied a separate party’s claim on technical grounds.
Rivers State Attorney General Dagogo Iboroma said that Amaewhule and his colleagues had already declared their defection to the APC through an affidavit in a separate, ongoing federal court case. This clarification highlights that the recent court case did not address their current party affiliation.
The legal battle over Amaewhule and the lawmakers’ party affiliation is ongoing, with the federal court case involving their affidavit expected to provide a clearer picture. LM will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
