Edison Ehie, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has withdrawn the contempt suit he filed against 25 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The withdrawal of the suit signals a de-escalation in the political tension that followed the defections.
In December, Ehie, who served as the factional speaker of the assembly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant following their move to the APC.
He represented Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers Assembly.
The former lawmaker had initiated contempt proceedings before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt against 25 of the defected lawmakers, challenging their sittings and legislative activities.
However, during the court session scheduled for Wednesday, I. Mac-Barango, counsel to the claimants, informed the court of a notice of discontinuance filed by Ehie.
Barango requested that the court give effect to the notice of discontinuance. Ferdinand Orbih and Emeka Onyeka, lawyers representing the defendants, did not object to the application. Consequently, F. A. Fiberesima, the presiding judge, struck out the suit.
Ehie had earlier announced his resignation from the house on December 29, in a letter addressed to the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The reasons behind his resignation remain undisclosed, but it is believed to be linked to the ongoing political crisis between Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
