Rivers CSOs drag defected lawmakers to court

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt will on March 8, 2024, hear a suit brought forth by Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, in Rivers State against 26 lawmakers, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Attorney General of Rivers State.

The crux of the matter lies in the CSOs’ quest for the interpretation of Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They seek clarification on whether lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, still retain legal rights to represent their constituencies.

In addition to seeking constitutional interpretation, the CSOs present multiple prayers before the court.

They are asking the court to restrain Governor Fubara from presenting the 2024 budget to the lawmakers who defected from PDP to the APC, especially considering that their seats have been declared vacant.

During the hearing, parties assembled at the court, only to be informed by Justice Stephen Dalyopam, through the court clerk, of the judge’s official assignment outside Port Harcourt.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned to March 8, 2024 for a comprehensive hearing.