The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The suit sought to replace the 27 lawmakers due to their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was dismissed for lacking in merit.

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, held that the suit filed by the Action People’s Party (APP) was statute-barred as it was not filed within the 14 days allowed by law.

The alleged defection by Martins Amaewhule and 26 others was said to have occurred in December 2023, while the APP filed the case on July 12, eight months after the cause of action arose.

Justice Lifu also held that the case was a gross abuse of the court process, as several suits on the alleged defection of the same 27 lawmakers had already been adjudicated upon by the Federal High Court.

The plaintiffs had prayed the court to direct INEC to conduct a by-election for the seats of the 27 lawmakers who had defected to the APC.

In reaction to the judgment, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, stated that he and 26 other lawmakers never defected from the PDP to the APC.