Tension as Appeal Court reserves judgement on Rivers crisis

A mild drama unfolded at the Special Court of Appeal Panel hearing on Thursday, during deliberations over the Rivers political crisis that could potentially lead to the removal of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike.

The confusion arose when two senior lawyers separately announced their representation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

J. Y. Musa declared his appearance for the PDP faction led by Umar Damagum, while B. F. Folurunsho countered, stating that he had been officially assigned the case by the party’s National Legal Adviser. Folurunsho asserted that the National Legal Adviser holds exclusive authority to manage all legal matters concerning the PDP.

The Special Court of Appeal Panel, headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, has since reserved judgment on the consolidated appeals against the earlier decision by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. This announcement followed the adoption of briefs and final arguments from counsel on both sides.

One of the appeals centers on a prior ruling by Justice Lifu, which prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for state local government elections—polls that have since taken place. In another contentious ruling, Justice Lifu had granted an ex parte order restraining the PDP’s national leadership from dissolving the recently elected party executives in Rivers State, a faction reportedly aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The Appeal Panel’s final ruling remains eagerly anticipated as the case continues to draw widespread attention.