Assembly takeover: Rivers APC vows to appeal judgment

THE Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has vowed to appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja that nullified the takeover of the functions of the State House of Assembly by the National Assembly.

The state APC said it rejected the court ruling delivered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adding that the judgement was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Interim State Chairman, APC Rivers State, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, the APC added that the decision of the High Court was not in the interest of the people of the state.

It noted that the anti-Amaechi lawmakers had concluded plans to impeach the Governor  Rotimi Amaechi, his deputy, Mr. Tele Ikuru, as a result of the court ruling.

The statement read in part, “The APC received with shock, the news of yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, which declared as unconstitutional, the taking over of the Rivers House of Assembly by the National Assembly.

“We are convinced that this decision is not in the interest of the good people of Rivers State and have, therefore, instructed our lawyers to immediately appeal against it.

“We wish to alert the Nigerian public about the imminent breakdown of law and order in Rivers State if the judgment of his Lordship, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, is allowed to stand.

“Already, the five rebel lawmakers in the House of 32 lawmakers have concluded plans to illegally sit as soon as they can to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his deputy, Tele Ikuru.

“The aim of these misguided agents of destabilisation sponsored by Education Minister, Nyesom Wike, is to pave the way for Evans Bipi, leader of the five rebel lawmakers, to be sworn-in as the acting governor,” the party added.

The APC expressed fear that the five rebel lawmakers would be protected by policemen and men of the Armed Forces and would declare the seats of the 26 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi vacant for defecting to the APC.

PUNCH NG