Court dismisses suit seeking replacement of pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a suit seeking the removal of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Representatives for switching to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by the People’s Action Party (APP) because it had expired.

Legislators loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favor of the APC over the crisis that gripped the Assembly in December 2023.

The parliamentarians were led by Martins Amaewhule.

READ ALSO: Rivers court confirms 27 pro-Wike lawmakers still PDP members

Following these developments, the PDP asked the leadership of the Assembly and the National Election Commission (KPU) to declare the DPR seats vacant and hold re-elections in the electoral districts.

In his ruling, Judge Lifu stated that the lawsuit was not filed within the 14 days permitted by law.

He added that the case was a gross abuse of the judicial process as several lawsuits over the defection of the MPs had been dismissed by the courts.

The judge noted that previous calls for the replacement of lawmakers had been rejected due to a lack of sufficient evidence to move against the defectors.

Court dismisses suit seeking replacement of pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.