Wike wins as Court bars PDP, INEC from stopping 27 Rivers lawmakers

The federal high court in Abuja has extended the order that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Rivers state house of assembly from declaring 27 seats vacant.

It would be recalled that the court, earlier in December, barred the commission from conducting an election to fill the seats of the 27 members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Donatus Okorowo extended the order on Thursday, December 28, based on an application by the lawyer to the lawmakers, Steve Adehi (SAN), The Nation reported.

Ken Njemanze (SAN), who represented the house of assembly, did not oppose it.

The judge rejected the objection raised by the lawyer to the PDP, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN).

Justice Okorowo held:

“Application for the extension of the lifespan of the ex-parte order pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice is hereby granted.”

He adjourned until January 24 for a hearing of pending applications.

It was reported that the development is seen as a win for Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), as the defectors are his allies.

In fact, it is said in some quarters that the former PDP members acted on his orders.

Wike and his former loyalist, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state, are currently locked in a supremacy battle.