Rivers court confirms defected assembly members as PDP, not APC

A Rivers State High Court has affirmed Wike’s ally, Martin Amaewhule, 26 other Rivers Assembly Members that defected to APC as PDP members.

Delivering judgement in Port Harcourt earlier Monday, Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court held that the claimants failed to prove that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Gbasam further held that membership of a party is only proven by being listed on the party’s register, or by membership card, adding that television ceremonies and or verbal statements, were not enough to show that a person is a member of a party.

Interestingly, the PDP had filed a motion to be joined in the case, and was added as the fourth defendant.

Justice Gbasam also held that the Rivers state government is bound to obey all laws passed by the Assembly, as they are still members of the PDP hence, their names are still in the PDP’s membership register as provided by the party.

He posited that the state government is bound by the laws made by the Assembly, as they are still members of the PDP, and as such, haven’t lost their seats.