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BREAKING: Court affirms pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday affirmed that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the State House of Assembly who are loyalists of former governor Nyesom Wike are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The 27 lawmakers had announced their defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in December 2023.
Subsequently, there have been calls that their seats should be declared vacant because of their defection from the platform on which they were elected into office, especially by the camp of Governor Fubara who has been engaged in battle for control of political
Fubara had also derecognized the lawmakers and is now dealing with a three -man assembly led by one Oko Jombo for the confirmation of his appointees and other necessary legislative inputs.
However, Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court on Monday said its cannot be proved that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit was instituted by Hycenth Amadi & others with Martin Chike Amaewhule & 24 others, the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney General of Rivers State and Rivers State House of Assembly as defendants.
The Judge ruled that the claimants have not been able to prove that the names of Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers are now in the membership register of APC.
The Court ruled that the party’s register or membership card, and not television ceremonies and or verbal statements, were the only acceptable proofs of party members.
The Court also ruled that the Claimants have failed to prove that Martin Amaewhule and 24 others have defected to APC as alleged as the Court cannot rely on newspaper and electronic media publications as enough evidence.
The 27 lawmakers are still members of the PDP since their names are still in the PDP’s membership register as provided by the party, the court ruled
Furthermore, the judge ruled that the 25 members never lost their seats and everything they did are valid.
Consequently, it ordered that Governor Fubara must comply with all the laws passed by the lawmakers.
Federal High Court presided over Justice Kolawole Omotosho had previously ruled that Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers loyal to Wike are still bonafide members of the Rivers House of Assembly.
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Protests erupted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.
The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters.
The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks.
“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters.
Another protester, Hannatu Philip, called on the government to intervene before it spirals out of control.
The protesters brandishing placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House.
The Presidency has said the former Labour Party, LP, presidential running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is no match for President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare was reacting to Datti’s remark that he (Tinubu) would not run for the presidency in 2027.
The former LP running mate insisted that Tinubu’s time is up, adding that everything is there for the president and the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, to see that they lose in 2027.
Dismissing such remark, Dare likened Datti’s comment to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through.
In a statement he signed, Dare said the likes of Peter Obi and Datti would have been president left for the latter’s theories.
According to Dare, Datti has chosen to venture into an unfamiliar terrain.
The statement reads partly: “Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s “illogical logic” was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel.
“Listening to Yusuf Datti Baba- Ahmed spurn his postulations about the political future of Nigeria and that of the incumbent President is like listening to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through. Yusuf Baba Ahmed and his co-traveller Peter Obi are indeed a “double whammy“ in the Nigerian political space.
“He chose to base his political calculations on President Bola Tinubu not winning a second term given his antecedents and because Nigerians will decide at the polls among other things. He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity.
“Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and chose to confront a politician he is no match for.”
Similarly, the Presidency had also stressed that Tinubu will reveal his plans for a second term at the right time.
It said the APC 2027 presidential campaign billboards had no links to Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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