Civil Society, Rivers State APC Protest Non-Swearing In Of Assembly Members

Leading civil society groups and some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tuesday protested at the Rivers State judiciary and Assembly complexes in Port Harcourt.

The groups protested what they referred to as the corruption by some members of the Rivers State Judiciary which has led to some suspect judicial actions and pronouncements that have stalled the swearing-in of Hon. Victoria Nyeche of Port Harcourt Constituency I and Hon. Andrew Miller of Opobo/Nkoro Constituency both in the Rivers State House of Assembly [RSHA].

The mass action commenced as early as 7am when protesters started gathering around the General Post Office area adjacent to the judiciary complex under the watchful eye of security men at a distance. At about 8 a.m the mammoth crowd led by notable civil society leaders and APC Chieftains matched to the gate of the judiciary and later moved to the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex where the leaders addressed the crowd.

It would be recalled that despite various tribunal and appeal court rulings declaring the two APC members winners of their State Constituency elections and subsequent issuance of Certificate of Return by the Independent Electoral Commission [INEC], the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly has refused to swear the two individuals into office hinging his action on purported pronouncements of certain courts in Rivers State.