Defection: Rep Gummi’s sack threatens other defectors
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the removal of the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State in the House of Representatives, Suleiman Gummi from his seat over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Thursday ordered the Speaker of the House, […]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the removal of the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State in the House of Representatives, Suleiman Gummi from his seat over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Thursday ordered the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop recognising Gummi as a member representing the constituency.
A lawyer has explained that the latest ruling has put the fate of several defecting elected officials in a tight corner as the law can be applied to all.
While noting that Gummi had forfeited his seat under Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, the judge further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a fresh election to fill the vacant seat within 30 days of the ruling.
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The judge further ordered the lawmaker to file evidence of the refund of his salaries and allowances, howsoever called, to the court registry within 30 days of the judgement.
Furthermore, the judge awarded the sum of N500,000 in favour of the PDP and the Zamfara State PDP chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki.
The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki through their lawyer, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) against the representative, Gummi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and INEC.
“A situation where the electorates have made their choices between different political parties and their candidates based on the manifestos and marketability of such a political party, it is legally and morally wrong for such a politician to abandon the party under which platform he or she was elected into office and move to a rival party without relinquishing the mandate of his or her former party,” the judge said.
“If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates.”
“In total, I resolve all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants,” Justice Egwuatu said.
‘Officials who defected recently affected by judgement’
The latest judgement raises concern over the survival of previous defectors from opposition parties to the ruling APC including lawmakers and state governors.
Reacting, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq, said the latest judgement applies to all political office holders who defected.
“All the parties have to do is to approach the court that these are no longer their candidates based on the law and these officials would lose their immunity,” he said.
He explained that it was morally and legally wrong to get to an office through a party and it later.
“It is a betrayal of trust of the people; citizens should go and test the law on the remaining defecting elected officials,” he added.
Recently, five Enugu lawmakers Nnolim John Nnaji (Nkanu East/Nkanu West); Anayo Onwuegbu (Aninri/Awgu/Oji River); Oke Martins (Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani); Obetta Mark Chidiebere (Nsukka/Igboeze South); Dennis Nnamdi Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu); Ngozi Okolie (LP, Aniocha/Oshimili); Daniel Asama (Jos North/Bassa); and Festus Olarewaju Akingbaso (Idanre/Ifedore).
Similarly, senators like Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South Senatorial District); Kelvin Chukwu (LP, Enugu East District); Senator Benson Agadaga (PDP, Bayelsa East); and Samaila Dahuwa Kaila (PDP, Bauchi North) also defected.
Governors like Eno Umo (Akwa Ibom); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Peter Mbah (Enugu) all defected from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC.