Professor Samuel Nwosu, an expert in constitutional law, claimed in a recent video shown on Symfoni TV that Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution would ultimately determine the destiny of Martin Amaewhule and other MPs who supported former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. He claims that their recent political actions will unavoidably have legal repercussions.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Speaking at a legal symposium in Port Harcourt, Professor Nwosu dissected the constitutional crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly. He emphasized that Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly spells out the fate of lawmakers who defect from the political party under which they were elected.
“The Constitution is clear and unambiguous. Section 109(1)(g) provides that a lawmaker shall vacate his seat if he defects to another political party without a division in his original party. There is no credible evidence of such a division within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which these lawmakers claim to rely on. This means they have effectively lost their seats,” Professor Nwosu explained.
The political crisis in Rivers State escalated after a faction of lawmakers, led by Amaewhule, pledged allegiance to Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, while opposing Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The situation has deepened the divide within the state’s political structure, with legal and political analysts weighing in on its implications.
Professor Nwosu further warned that any attempt to bypass the constitutional provision could be met with judicial intervention. “The courts have ruled on similar matters in the past, and the legal precedent does not favor the defecting lawmakers. The law does not serve personal interests; it serves justice and stability in governance,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, political observers anticipate that the legal battle over the seats of the pro-Wike lawmakers could soon be settled in court, as calls grow for the enforcement of the constitutional provision. Governor Fubara’s allies have also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seats vacant and conduct fresh elections.
As the crisis unfolds, all eyes remain on the judiciary to determine whether the pro-Wike lawmakers will retain their positions or be replaced in accordance with the law.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
