Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has alleged that the Rivers State 27 lawmakers sworn to an affidavit at a Federal High Court following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He pointed out that the lawmakers obtained an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking any action against them, such as withdrawing their certificates of return or occupying their offices. He noted that despite obtaining this court order, they have failed to make this information public. He emphasized that the Supreme Court has established a clear precedent that any lawmaker who defects from their political party automatically loses their seat.
He said in an interview with Channels TV from 26:14, ‘The 27 lawmakers ran to a Federal High Court, swearing to their defection to APC and asking the Court to restrain INEC from either withdrawing their certificates of return or filling their offices. And they got that order from the Court, but they haven’t told Nigerians that they received such an order from the Court.
The Supreme Court had earlier stated that as soon as you defect, you automatically lose your office. Therefore, when you say that a court has said that Martins Amaewhule is the authentic speaker, this is a matter he filed before his defection, and they won’t tell Nigerians this either. You can’t place something on nothing and expect it to stand.”