"The Sacked Members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly are fully aware of all the constitutional provisions in Nigeria but have decided to embark on acts of forgery and contempt of law by disobeying the Justice Inyana Ekwo Judgement that sacked them from office."
Rt. Hon. Victor Aleke, a member representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency made this statement, Thursday in Abakaliki, after his seat was purportedly declared vacant because of his alleged resignation letter, which he allegedly tendered before the House last Tuesday.
He recalled that "It is in the public domain that on 8 March 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja sacked the Ebonyi State Speaker Mr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and 16 sixteen other lawmakers for defecting from the party on whose platform they were elected."
He stressed that the reactions to the judgement have been overwhelming, pointing out that most people found no fault with removing the lawmakers from office because it tallies with the provisions of the constitution.
Aleke said, he decided to brief journalists to draw the attention of the general public to what he described as "the abuse of the rule of law by the sacked members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly."
He noted: "As lawmakers, the constitution has left no one in doubt that political parties are the most important actors in the nation's electoral process. To start with, the constitution provides that only aspirants sponsored by political parties can be candidates in an election.
"The Sacked Members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly are fully aware of all these constitutional provisions but have decided to embark on acts of forgery and contempt of law by disobeying the Justice Inyana Ekwo Judgement that sacked them from office.
"The situation is more worrisome when lawmakers who are supposed to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria abuse the law by forging the resignation letters of their fellow lawmakers and declaring their seats. These acts are poised to plug the state into total anarchy.
"As a Peaceful Lawmaker, I applaud the judgement of Justice Inyana Ekwo as this court pronouncement will bring sanity to our political system and equally strengthen our democracy. I urge all the sacked members of the statehouse of Assembly to adhere strictly please to the rule of law.
"I hereby inform the general public to disregard the concocted information on the media that I and two other People's Democratic Party Ebonyi State House of Assembly members resigned our elected position thereby declaring our seats vacant. These actions by the sacked Lawmakers are total abuse of the rule of law and contempt of court judgement which is tantamount to arrest.
"The good people of Ebonyi State and Nigerians should disregard such information as it holds no water and it cannot stand.
"As I urge all constituents of these lawmakers whose seats were purported declared vacant to remain calm and peaceful as the court pronouncement that sacked the 16 Ebonyi State House of Assembly members still stands until they get a stay of execution or get a favourable judgement from the appellate court."
He added: "As it stands now, Ebonyi State House of Assembly members are Hon Chris Usulor, Hon Victor Aleke, Hon Chidi Ejem, Hon Engr Humphrey Nwuruku, Hon Dr Oliver Osii, Hon Mrs Franca Okpo, Hon Okechukwu Ali and Hon Mrs Lilian Ngozi Eziulo.
"Presently, These are the members of the statehouse of Assembly until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise or fresh elections are conducted within 90days according to the federal high court judgement delivered by Justice Inyana Ekwo Declaratory Judgment on 8th March 2022."
