Court restrains INEC from holding by-elections in Rivers

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided by Justice Donatus Okorowo, delivering judgement on an ex-parte suit, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting by-elections to fill the seats vacated by the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All progressives Congress (APC).

Counsel to the 27 legislators, Peter Onuh, in an ex-parte suit, on 13 December, requested the Federal High Court, Abuja, to restrain, the Rivers State House of Assembly, INEC, and the PDP from taking actions that could undermine the rights of the defected lawmakers, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule.

Justice Okorowo, granting the requests of the lawmakers, restrained the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Edison Ehie, who are the defendants in the suit, from any action that will hinder the defected 27 lawmakers from performing their legislative duties as speaker, deputy speaker, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, after their defection.

Justice Okorowo further restrained the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) “from denying or refusing to provide security to the 27 Lawmakers or withdrawing their security details”.
The Judge, thereafter adjourned the suit to December 28 for hearing.