By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the Supreme Court ruling on the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis as a victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the rule of law.
The Supreme Court had on Friday, nullified the 21, November 2024, judgment of the Court of Appeal which had upheld the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the Rivers State.
The Justice Uwani Abba-Aji led five-member panel unanimously ruled in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting that the election was illegal and violated electoral laws and processes.
Responding to the ruling which also upheld the legitimacy of the 27-member Martin Amaewhule-led State Assembly, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the judgment was a clear message that democracy cannot exist without a legislature.
Wike, who condemned the actions of the Rivers State government in recognizing only a faction of the assembly said, “The Supreme Court has made it very clear that you cannot have a democracy without a legislature. It is unheard of for three people to sit somewhere and claim to be making laws for an entire state,” Wike said.
Wike, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers State, criticized the administration’s handling of the crisis, particularly the demolition of the Rivers State House of assembly complex, which he described as an attack on an independent arm of government.
“A governor demolishing the Assembly complex and pretending nothing happened is unacceptable. Then you carry a few legislators to your house and claim they are making laws? And you expect no consequences? This is wrong, and we cannot continue like this,” he said.
The minister also cautioned Governor Siminalayi Fubara against ignoring the Supreme Court’s order, reminding him that he has already disobeyed the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
“You’ve disobeyed the Federal High Court, you’ve disobey Court of Appeal, but that does not mean that you will dare the Supreme Court, because nobody disobey any court because that will be inviting anarchy. I know with the Supreme Court judgment, the end has come for lawlessness,” he stated.
He also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold funds from the Rivers State government until the budget is properly presented to the assembly, stating that public funds cannot be spent without legal appropriation.
“You cannot continue to release money when there is no legally recognized government budget. Until the budget is presented to the appropriate assembly, 27 members not three, no money should be released,” he warned.
He also took a swipe at former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, accusing the both of supporting lawlessness in the state.
