A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abubakar Gummi for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a judgment, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, barred the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising Gummi as a member representing Gummi/ Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.
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The Judge also made an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh election to fill the vacancy for the constituency within 30 days from the day of the judgment.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, though the judgment was delivered on Thursday, the certified true copy was sighted on Friday.
The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its state’s Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, as 1st and 2nd plaintiffs.
Gummi, in his response through his lawyer, filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit, arguing that his decampment was due to the crisis within the PDP.
According to him, contrary to the plaintiffs’ deposition, the lingering, unresolved internal and external crisis, both at the national level and in his constituency, is the reason for his defection from the party to the APC.
The federal lawmaker stated that the crisis resulted in a state in which he could no longer properly represent his constituents or ensure that they all benefit from the shared distribution of the dividends of democracy within the bounds of law, without undue interference from anyone or anything.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Egwuatu granted all the plaintiffs’ reliefs.
The judge condemned the attitude of some politicians who see defection as a normal practice.