The Action Peoples Party (APP) has reacted to the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that it is reviewing it in order to determine the nature of appeal to file.
The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu on Friday delivered a judgment on APP suit that prayed it to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant elective positions in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Legal Adviser of APP, Barrister Henry Ekine, said instead of looking at the merit of the suit, the judge throw it away on other considerations.
Barrister Ekine stated that APP never requested the removal or sacking of the estranged former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and 26 others from the State House of Assembly.
He argued that the party rather relied on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to request the court, as a responsible political party that wants the grundnorm of the country respected at all times, to look at the law, and ensure that no vacuum was allowed to exist in line with existing law.
Despite the fact that the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu had ruled, throwing out the suit on multiple legal grounds, Barrister Ekine said the APP has started reviewing the judgment, and will take further necessary action soon.
However, Barrister Ekine clarified: “What we want you to know here is to tell the public: our esteemed members and the general public, that nothing substantial has changed. All of the decisions that have come out from the various high courts; courts of coordinate jurisdiction, I think will be settled when we get to the Supreme Court.
“What is fundamental is that the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja is not final, and then, it has not changed substantially the position of the Rivers State House of Assembly with respect to its leadership as far as APP is concerned.
“That is why we went to court. We feel strongly, up until now, that there are vacant positions in the Rivers House of Assembly, and those positions need to be filled. To our knowledge, they are three members that are left. The Speaker, in that regard, is the person of Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo.”
