Court Bars INEC From Conducting By-Elections To Replace 27 Lawmakers

Abuja, Nigeria – Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from organizing by-elections to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Justice Okorowo has also prohibited the defendants in the case from disrupting the legislative activities of the 27-member camp of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the roles of speaker, deputy speaker, and parliament members.

The Judge issued an injunction restraining the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) from denying or refusing to furnish security to the 27 lawmakers or withdrawing their security details.

He subsequently adjourned the suit to December 28 for a hearing.

It would be recalled that Edison Ehie, a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of 27 lawmakers vacant after they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr. Ehie, supported by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, conflicts with the 27-member group led by Martin Amaewhule, which remains loyal to Nyesom Wike, a former governor and the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, to prevent the conduct of by-elections to fill their vacant seats, the group of 27 lawmakers, represented by their lawyer Peter Onuh, filed an ex-parte request on December 13. They urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Rivers State House of Assembly, INEC, and the PDP from taking any actions that could undermine their rights.

Meanwhile, Mr Amaewhule and his group, the applicants in the suit, sought the court’s intervention to restrain the State Security Service (SSS), the Inspector General of Police, and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from depriving them of their rights as lawmakers, which includes the withdrawal of police security.