A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed that embattled factional speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the House are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Delivering judgement in Port Harcourt on Monday, Justice Okogbule Gbasam 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.
The judge further held that television ceremonies and or verbal statements were not enough to show the concerned lawmakers had defected to another party.
Meanwhile, the PDP had filed a motion to be joined in the case, and was added as the fourth defendant.
Justice Gbasam further 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 further held that the state government is bound by laws made by the Assembly, as they are still members of the PDP, and as such have not lost their seats.
