Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The suit, which sought to remove the 27 lawmakers over their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), was dismissed on multiple grounds.
In delivering the judgment on Friday, Justice Lifu ruled that the case filed by the Action People’s Party (APP) was statute-barred, as it was not filed within the 14-day legal window.
The alleged defection took place in December of the previous year, yet the APP did not file the suit until July 12, more than eight months later.
Additionally, the judge noted that the case represented a gross abuse of court processes, given that several similar cases regarding the defection of the same lawmakers had already been adjudicated by the Federal High Court.
Justice Lifu referenced prior rulings, including a July judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the lawmakers’ seats vacant or conducting any fresh elections to replace them.
Since the earlier judgment had neither been set aside nor appealed, Justice Lifu emphasized that it remains legally binding. He further noted that it would be a waste of judicial resources for him to act as an appellate court in the matter already decided by the same court.