The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the court order empowering the factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, to preside over activities of the legislative arm of government.

Reacting to Tuesday’s court order granted by Justice M.W. Danagogo, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers, Tony Okocha, described the order as an afront to democracy and a fragrant abuse of court processes.

Okocha said the party has clear knowledge that the reason the order was given was to allow the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to present the 2024 budget to the Assembly.

He however, queried: “Can four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, sit in leadership over 31-member House with other 27 members who have defected to the APC?”

The APC party chairman said it was preposterous for Justice Danagogo to berate the National Judicial Council (NJC) who had decided against the granting of frivolous exparte orders by judges and had punished erring judges who ventured in it.

Okocha said: “Today, Rivers people woke up to hear that one Justice Danagogo of the Rivers State High Court granted with impunity an exparte order to one Hon. Edison Ehie, recognising him as Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly. It would be recalled that the same Ehie had approached a Federal High Court in Rivers, seeking to be declared as Speaker in the case in issue.

“Arguments have been taken and judgement reserved for December 22. Surprisingly, today, on same subject matter, Justice Danagogo granted an exparte order, purporting to recognise Ehie as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The judge claimed that the case was filed by Ehie on the October 30 and assigned to him on November 1. For all these length of time, if the subject matter required urgency, why did the judge wait till today, December 12, to grant an exparte order.”