The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at replacing 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The lawmakers were accused of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Presiding over the case, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit, which was filed by the Action People’s Party (APP), on three key grounds.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu stated that the suit was statute-barred, as it was not filed within the 14-day legal timeframe. The alleged defection took place in December of the previous year, while the APP initiated the lawsuit on July 12, eight months after the event.
Additionally, Justice Lifu described the case as an abuse of court process, noting that similar lawsuits involving the same 27 lawmakers had already been resolved by the Federal High Court. He highlighted previous rulings that rejected attempts to unseat the lawmakers due to insufficient evidence of their defection.
Justice Lifu also referenced a July ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the lawmakers’ seats vacant or organizing fresh elections. Since that ruling remains unchallenged, it continues to hold legal weight.
The judge emphasized that it would be inappropriate for him to overrule a decision made by another judge of the same jurisdiction, reaffirming the earlier judgment and concluding that the suit lacked merit.
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