The latest political news now in Rivers State is that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to replace 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, all loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, following allegations of their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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The case, instituted by the Action People’s Party (APP), was thrown out by Justice Lifu on multiple legal grounds. According to the judge, the suit was filed beyond the statutory timeframe of 14 days as mandated by Nigerian law. The defection in question took place in December 2023, while the suit was filed on July 12, 2024—more than eight months later.
“The suit is statute-barred,” Justice Lifu ruled, adding that the delay in filing violated the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which set clear time limits for legal challenges involving elected officials.
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Moreover, the judge emphasized that the case was a gross abuse of the judicial process. He pointed out that similar cases concerning the alleged defection of the same 27 lawmakers had already been adjudicated by the Federal High Court.
The APP had argued that the lawmakers’ defection to the APC was unlawful and requested their removal from the state assembly. This was seen as part of a larger political tussle between current Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who sought to diminish Wike’s influence, and Wike’s loyalists, who have maintained control of the state legislature.
Governor Fubara, a former ally of Wike, has increasingly distanced himself from the ex-governor’s political network. The attempt to replace the pro-Wike lawmakers was widely viewed as a strategy to consolidate his own authority in the state.
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In response to the court’s decision, legal experts have weighed in on the importance of adhering to statutory timelines in cases of political defection. Some have noted that this ruling sets a precedent for future legal challenges in Nigeria’s volatile political landscape, especially in states where lawmakers frequently switch party affiliations.
As the dust settles, the court’s dismissal of the case reinforces the standing of the 27 lawmakers, further entrenching Wike’s influence in the Rivers State House of Assembly, despite Fubara’s efforts to assert control.
Governor Fubara’s legal team has yet to issue a formal statement on the ruling, though insiders suggest the governor may explore other avenues to challenge the power dynamics in Rivers State.
The political intrigue in Rivers has been further fueled by Wike’s role as the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which gives him considerable influence in national politics, complicating Fubara’s attempts to weaken his former ally’s grip on the state legislature.
