Rivers Crisis: Government Rejects Appeal Court Ruling, Heads to Supreme Court

Rivers Government Challenges Court Ruling on Assembly Crisis, Seeks Supreme Court Intervention

The Rivers State Government has swiftly rejected a recent Court of Appeal ruling and is taking the case to the Supreme Court. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, dismissed the government’s appeal and confirmed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must present the 2024 budget to the pro-Wike faction of the State House of Assembly. This decision is seen as a win for Nyesom Wike’s loyalists, as the court affirmed Martin Amaewhule as Speaker and reinstated 26 lawmakers aligned with Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Govt Rejects Ruling, Files Stay of Execution

In response, Rivers Attorney General, D.I. Iboroma, SAN, issued a statement rejecting the court’s decision, arguing that Amaewhule and the others ceased to be lawmakers after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Iboroma maintained that their defection automatically disqualified them under Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Govt to Maintain Status Quo Pending Supreme Court Outcome

The government is seeking a stay of execution to prevent the reinstated lawmakers from acting as House members. The Rivers government clarified that the case centered around the National Assembly’s power to take over legislative functions in the state, not the legitimacy of the lawmakers’ defection.

Governor Fubara has instructed his legal team to appeal to the Supreme Court while urging residents to disregard false claims circulating about the court ruling.