LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has hit at the defecting lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly over their ignorance of the law.
The foremost Human Rights lawyer noted that the lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant after their defection were inexposed to sound legal advice.
Trouble started when 27 members of the Rivers Assembly defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over a lingering power tussle crisis in the State.
The seats of the lawmakers reportedly loyal to Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were consequently declared vacant.
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Their defection was aimed at a move to impeach current Governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
Falana who spoke during a television programme monitored, affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is required by law to conduct elections for the seats of the lawmakers.
“The legislators were not exposed to sound legal advice. Everybody should know that once the Supreme Court has made a pronouncement on a matter in any country, you’re bound to comply, and if you’re going to take any decision, you must study the judgement critically.
“Just yesterday, 20 legislators who defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, had their seats declared vacant by the court. That’s the law; unless the Supreme Court decides to change it, that is the law in Nigeria today.
“It’s also a good development; it’s a good law; it’s a good interpretation that there should be no political prostitution in the country, because it’s tountamount to political immorality if you vote on the platform of a political party and you abandon the party; you’re advised to go and try your luck by contesting again under the new political party,” Falana said.
