A Rivers State High Court has declared that Martin Amaewhuke led 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are still members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
The Court, in a ruling on Monday, struck out a suit filed by Wosa Amadi and three others seeking to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant following their defection to the All Progressives Congress in December 2003.
In his judgement, the Presiding Judge, Justice Okogbule Gbasam, ruled that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers are still members of the PDP.
Justice Gbasam also ruled that the claimants failed to prove to the court that the 27 lawmakers truly defected to the APC, noting that the said defection cannot be established through Newspaper publications, Radio announcements or online publications.
According to the court, a defection can only be established through the party membership register, a membership card and such members fulfilling all requirements of their membership in the party.
The Assembly has been enmeshed in crisis since January this year.