A political crisis in Rivers State, Nigeria, has taken a new twist as a court has ordered a factional speaker of the state House of Assembly and his supporters to stay away from the legislative building until it is fully repaired.

The factional speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was among 27 members of the House who defected from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday.

The defection was seen as a blow to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who belongs to the PDP and has been at loggerheads with Wike, his former ally and godfather.

On Tuesday, Justice M.W Danagogo of the Rivers State High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of Edison Ehie, another factional speaker of the House, who is loyal to the governor.

According to a report by Punch, Ehie had filed an application seeking to restrain Amaewhule and his supporters from using the state assembly complex, which was burnt and damaged by a fire outbreak on October 2, 2023.

The judge ordered that Ehie should preside over the activities of the House until the motion on notice is determined. He also ordered that Amaewhule and his allies should stop using armed thugs and police personnel to gain access to the complex, contrary to the governor’s order that the building should be relocated to a secure and conducive venue for renovation.

The judge further ordered that Amaewhule and his supporters should not prevent, disrupt, or interfere with the smooth and regular operation, management, and administration of the House, as well as the exercise of Ehie’s statutory legislative duties.

The judge warned that Ehie would pay the sum of N50 million ($125,000) as damages if the application turns out to be frivolous. He also directed that the defendants should be served with the interim order and other processes in the suit on or before December 13, 2023.

The case was adjourned to December 21 for the motion on notice.

APC Rejects Court Order

The APC in Rivers State has rejected the court order, describing it as a procured and an abuse of court processes.

The caretaker chairman of the APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, said the party was surprised that the judge granted an ex parte order to Ehie, who had earlier approached a federal high court on the same matter.

Okocha said the judge contravened the National Judicial Council’s order on frivolous ex parte orders and had sanctioned judges who defied the order.

He said the APC, with an overwhelming majority in the House, would not tolerate intimidation, harassment, and threat of its members. He said the party would petition the judge to the NJC if he did not reverse himself immediately.

He also advised the governor to refrain from any action that may escalate the political crisis in the state.

Despite the political turmoil in Rivers State, some analysts and observers have expressed hope that peace and stability would prevail in the state, which is one of the richest and most populous in Nigeria.

They urged the parties involved to respect the rule of law and the will of the people, and to seek dialogue and reconciliation to resolve their differences.