Rivers State Assembly: Victor Oko-Jumbo faction appeals supreme court ruling

The Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Appeal Court’s recent judgment.

On Thursday, the Appeal Court dismissed an earlier ex parte order that barred Martin Amaewhule from acting as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and prohibited 24 pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex.

Oko-Jumbo, who insists he remains the legitimate Speaker, addressed his camp on Friday, asserting that the Appeal Court was in error when it ruled that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction in the case.

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The faction has taken steps to appeal this decision at the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court’s initial ruling, which declared the seats of Amaewhule and 24 others vacant following their defection from the PDP to the APC, should stand.

The Assembly has been divided since the political rift between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the current Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Amaewhule, defected from the PDP to the APC in December 2023, which led to their seats being declared vacant by then-Speaker Edison Ehie.

Despite the Appeal Court’s ruling, Oko-Jumbo maintains that there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State and calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seats. The faction remains firm in its stance until a competent court declares otherwise.

During the plenary session, the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly considered two bills, opening debate and moving them through the first reading.