The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged plot to validate defection of 27 assembly members.

The CUPP said that the plot is to use secret exparte suit to legalize the sacked Rivers state lawmakers to pave way for illegal impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers recently decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that has been generating controversy in Rivers state.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, the National Secretary of the opposition political parties, Mr. Peter Ameh, claimed that it had intercepted credible intelligence and draft ruling that was purportedly written by a judge.

Ameh further alleged that the purported draft verdict was currently in circulation on the web and would be delivered on Monday or within the week in a secret application filed in court after the close of business between Thursday and Friday last week.

According to him, the suit, which had as its reference: FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 was meant to declare the defecting members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as bonafide lawmakers.

The CUPP vowed to drag any judge that deliverer such judgment to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

It also asked heads of security agencies to steer clear of the political crisis and ensure that the institutions of government, especially the Rivers State Government is protected.

CUPP said: “We have intercepted credible intelligence and have seen a draft copy of a ruling that was purportedly written by a judge (names witheld) of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“The ruling which is currently in circulation on the web, will be delivered on Monday or within the week in a secret application filed in court after the close of business between Thursday and Friday (last week).

“It is arguably surprising, how they were able to file the suit, follow through the process of registration and assignment of the suit within 24 hours.

“Now it is before the judge scheduled to assume jurisdiction as vacation judge on Monday 18th December, 2023 who by the way also without any form of hearing, whether in open court or in chambers has drafted a ruling to be delivered on the same Monday 18th December, 2023.

“The point here is that a ruling is about to be delivered on Monday (Today), undermining democratic principles and constitutional governance which was shared in a WhatsApp forum.

“Certainly, the content of the ruling would in effect order and say that those who had already defected to the APC are still members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and that their respective seats cannot be declared vacant

“It might also interest you to know that part of the ruling is to the effect that His Excellency Sim Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State an Ijaw man cannot present any budget before the State House of Assembly led by its Speaker Edison Ehie, except before the defectors.

“We are also, not unaware that the whole agenda is to ensure that Governor Fubara is removed from office within the next 10 days via a Kangaroo ruling made ex parte.

“They will say if he is dissatisfied, let him go to court, a slogan which some state actors have adopted to back their nefarious illegality and oppression of the Rule of Law.

“We are saying that this will mark the end of Nigeria’s democracy if we cross that line because Nigerians are not fools. No one perpetrate illegality and thinks he can get away with it.

“Let us also draw the attention of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the President of the Court of Appeal as well as all heads of National Security Agencies, Foreign Mission, International Communities and those who love democracy to what we are saying.

“We urge Nigerians to please march in your numbers and go to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja at Court Eight (on Monday) and see whether he will read and deliver the draft Ruling line to line, which is already within the public domain.”