Former Court of Appeal Judge Justice Mojeed Adekunle Owoade has pointed out a legal loophole pertaining to the 27 Rivers State lawmakers who have defected. Although the Supreme Court has carried out its duties, he pointed out that it has not specifically decided whether an appeal or cross-appeal on the MPs’ defection was taken into consideration.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Speaking in a live coverage by Symfoni, Justice Owoade explained that the Supreme Court made comments on defection but did not issue a clear verdict on the specific case of the lawmakers. He suggested that the court’s approach was influenced by previous rulings from the High Court of Rivers State and the Court of Appeal, which had addressed similar defection cases.
According to him, this has created uncertainty regarding the lawmakers’ status in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The Supreme Court did not expressly declare them ineligible, leading to ambiguity about whether they still hold their positions. He pointed out that the court’s stance was shaped by existing legal precedents rather than making a fresh declaration on the matter.
This situation underscores the need for clarity in legal rulings on political defections, especially when they involve legislative representation. Without a definitive Supreme Court ruling, questions remain about the defected lawmakers’ legitimacy in the assembly. This legal gap could set a precedent for similar cases in the future, highlighting the complexities surrounding political party defections in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
