Defection: Coalition Backs Judiciary On 27 Rivers Lawmakers

A coalition of civil society organisations is backing the dismissal of a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the Rivers State House of Assembly for the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a rival party.

The Federal High Court Abuja last week dismissed the suit instituted against the former members of the Assembly believed to be loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

Justice Peter Lifu held that the suit instituted by the Action People’s Party (APP) was statute-barred having not been filed within 14 days allowed by law.