Nigeria, March 18 -- A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has fixed 16 April for its ruling on an application seeking the sack of 27 lawmakers of the Rivers House of Assembly over their defection.

The 27 lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, are loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The Labour Party (LP), which filed the suit, had prayed the court to declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant for defecting from the PDP to the APC, Channels TV reported.

Following a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara had applied to withdraw the initial suit filed in the Supreme Court seeking the sack of the lawmakers for the defection.

The Supreme Court in February dismissed the suit after Mr Fubara's l...