On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the political crisis in Rivers State saw a new development. The Appeal Court in Abuja delivered a judgment that brought relief to Martins Amaewhule and his group of 26 Assembly members.
The ruling caused celebrations among supporters of former Governor and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, seemingly giving him an advantage over Governor Siminalayi Fubara in their ongoing political conflict. Wike’s supporters were seen dancing and celebrating, interpreting the judgment as a victory. The judgement and its different interpretations has, clearly, increased the political tension in Rivers State.
The Appeal Court judge ruled that the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt did not have the jurisdiction to rule on the validity of the defection by Martins Amaewhule and his colleagues. The G-60 Federal Opposition Lawmakers Coalition in the National Assembly argued that the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers remain sacked and their seats vacant, as the Appeal Court did not rule on the legality of their defection but only stated that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction over such matters.
Chief Tony Okocha, caretaker committee chairman of APC in Rivers State, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying, “Justice was served, the reasoning adduced by the venerated Justice of the Court of Appeal under which stood the bedrock of their unanimous decision, is very sound and unimpeachable.”
In response to the ongoing conflict, some supporters of Governor Fubara have suggested that he leave the PDP due to the lack of support from the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels. Political commentator Franklin Ntekim remarked, “It is obvious that he does not enjoy the support of the party. It is also clear that the FCT minister must have won the party to himself and thereby made the PDP in the state toxic to the governor.”
Human rights activist Solomon Lenu also supported the call for Fubara to leave the PDP, stating, “He cannot win any election in the state if he remains in the PDP to conduct the LG election in October. The state chairman of the PDP is the Minister’s loyalist.”
Calls for the governor’s defection have been met with caution. The director-general of Simplified Movement, Governor Fubara’s grassroots political group, Hon Evans Bapakaye Bipi, said, “The governor is the leader of PDP in Rivers State. He has not given us the direction of where to go. Wherever he wants us to go, we will go there.” Bipi, a former Chief Whip in the House of Assembly, added that the Appeal Court judgment was fair and did not address the issue of defection directly.
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a leader of the pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), believes it is too early to agitate for the governor to leave the PDP. He stated, “To me, the game is becoming clearer. But it is too early for that. If the governor is not comfortable with his party, he can leave.”
The Rivers State chairman of the Labor Party (LP), Hilda Dokubo, welcomed the possibility of the governor joining their party, saying, “The Governor is a Nigerian citizen. He has every right to go wherever he wants to go. Whether he wants to come to our party or somewhere else, it is his inalienable choice.”
