A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned the hearing of the suit filed by the Civil Society Organizations in Rivers State against the 26 defected lawmakers, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Peoples Democratic and the Attorney General of the State, to March 26, 2023.
The development came during the hearing of the matter, when parties assembled at the court, only to be informed by Justice Stephen Dalyopam, through the court clerk, that the judges had an official assignment outside Port Harcourt.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned for a comprehensive hearing on March 8, 2024.
The CSOs had requested for interpretation of Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seeking clarification on whether lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, still retain legal rights to represent their different constituencies.
In addition to seeking constitutional interpretation concerning their defection, the CSOs also present multiple prayers before the court.
They are asking the court to restrain Governor Fubara from presenting the 2024 budget to the defected lawmakers, especially considering that their seats have been declared vacant.
