Human Rights Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) condemns President Bola Tinubu’s involvement in state-level disputes, emphasizing the need for adherence to constitutional guidelines.
In a statement shared in Abuja, Falana asserts that Tinubu’s intervention is merely advisory and calls for constitutional compliance in resolving political crises in Ondo and Rivers States.
Falana points out the unconstitutional nature of the presidential reinstatement of the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that the seats declared vacant by the Speaker must be addressed through a mandatory by-election.
He emphasizes that the PDP, from which the members defected to the APC, is not factionalized or divided as required by the Constitution, resulting in the loss of their seats.
Highlighting the Speaker’s authority recognized by the courts, Falana argues that only a court of law can constitutionally set aside the pronouncement on the vacant seats.
He underscores that a presidential directive cannot remove the Speaker, who has not been ousted by the required number of legislators.
In conclusion, Falana urges all parties involved to seek guidance from the Constitution to resolve the crisis in Rivers State promptly.
