Constitutional lawyer Femi Falana has indicated that the 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Nyesom Wike may risk losing their seats unless they successfully persuade the Supreme Court.
Falana, speaking in an interview on Channels Television, expressed the opinion that these lawmakers might not have received adequate advice, considering the past rulings of the apex court.
He emphasized that, according to the law, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is obligated to organize elections to fill the seats left vacant by the former Rivers State lawmakers
He said, “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 tantamount 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,” he said.