A draft of an already written court ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja for an ex parte application in favour of pro-Nyesom Wike’s lawmakers in Rivers State has leaked online. According to the court papers, the ruling is set to be delivered tomorrow (Monday, December 18, 2023). Justice D. U. Okorowo allegedly held a secret hearing in his chambers and delivered a judgement in favour of 27 lawmakers said to be loyal to former Rivers State governor, Wike. But Justice Okorowo has denied the allegation, saying nothing of the sort happened.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the seats of 26 Rivers State House of Assembly members vacant and conducting fresh elections to fill their seats. The deposed Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and 25 others secured an interim order restraining INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers House of Assembly, Clerk of the House and security agencies from declaring their seats and taking any action to declare the seats of the 26 plaintiffs vacant.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from conducting by-elections for the 27 defected Peoples Democratic Party's lawmakers.