The Labour Party (LP) has received court approval to present a video clip showing Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The LP is one of the parties seeking a judicial review on the validity of the lawmakers’ seats, arguing that their defection caused them to vacate their positions in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The defection announcement was made by Amaewhule on December 11, 2023, without any internal PDP crisis, which typically justifies such a move.
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This has prompted the LP to seek legal validation that the defections were invalid, thus declaring the lawmakers’ seats vacant.
At a hearing before Justice Emmanuel Obele of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, LP’s counsel Clifford Chukwu highlighted that the party has strong evidence, including a video showing Amaewhule’s announcement of the defections on behalf of the 27 lawmakers.
The court granted permission to present this video as evidence, but Justice Obele opted to first address preliminary applications before hearing the main matter.
The case has been adjourned to January 21, 2025, when the video evidence will be presented. Meanwhile, another case related to the matter, filed by the Speaker of the Pro-Fubara lawmakers, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and his colleagues, has also been considered.
Oko-Jumbo’s group is urging the court to declare that the 27 lawmakers no longer hold seats in the assembly, citing Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
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Justice Obele has scheduled the next hearing for December 10, 2024, for adoption of processes, which may lead to judgment.
