Court Extends Injunction Preventing By-Elections For 27 Rivers Lawmakers

Court Extends Injunction Preventing By-Elections For 27 Rivers Lawmakers....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the temporary injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting by-elections to fill the seats of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)…..CONTINUE READING

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The development comes after the Rivers PDP declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant in response to their defection to the APC on December 11. This political maneuvering occurred amid the power struggle between Governor Siminilayi Fubara and his estranged political mentor, former governor Nyesom Wike.

The lawmakers, who align themselves with Wike, initiated the legal action (FHC/AB3/CS/1681/23), seeking the court’s intervention to restrain INEC, the PDP, and other respondents from taking any punitive measures against them following their party switch. The additional defendants in the suit include the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.

Justice Donatus Okorowo had initially issued the injunction on December 15, preventing INEC from organizing new elections for the vacant seats pending the determination of the substantive suit.During the recent proceedings, the court extended the order following an application by the embattled lawmaker’s counsel, Steve Adehi (SAN). Despite opposition from the PDP’s counsel, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Justice Okorowo exercised discretionary power under Order 26, Rule 10 of the Federal High Court, citing the interest of justice as a basis for the extension.

The judge acknowledged the persuasive arguments presented by Adehi and Njemanze, supporting the decision to grant the order in the interest of justice. The matter has been adjourned until January 24, 2024, for the hearing of other applications on notice.

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