The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gummi from his seat in the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gummi, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, was sacked on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who also directed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop recognising him as a member of the lower chamber.
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat. The certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Friday.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki. The plaintiffs, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ibrahim Bawa, contended that Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), since there was no division in the PDP at the time he left the party.
They asked the court to declare Gummi’s defection unconstitutional and to compel the Speaker to declare his seat vacant.
In his defence, Gummi argued through his counsel that his defection was necessitated by internal crises within the PDP both at the national and state levels, which, he claimed, made it impossible for him to effectively represent his constituents.
Justice Egwuatu, however, dismissed the lawmaker’s argument, holding that the evidence before the court did not establish any division within the PDP capable of justifying defection.
In a scathing remark, the judge condemned what he described as the “growing culture of political prostitution” among elected officials who switch parties without relinquishing the mandate given to them by voters.
“Politicians should respect the wishes of the electorate that elected them into office. When voters choose between political parties based on their manifestos, it is legally and morally wrong for an elected person to abandon the party under which he was elected and move to another without relinquishing that mandate,” Justice Egwuatu said.
He added: “If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorate. A politician has no such right to transfer votes garnered on the platform of one party to another. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician. Political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
The court consequently declared that Gummi’s seat had become vacant from the date of his defection and ordered INEC to conduct a by-election to fill the position within 30 days.
Justice Egwuatu further restrained Gummi from receiving any salaries or allowances in his capacity as a lawmaker and ordered him to refund all payments received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
The court also directed that evidence of the refund be filed at the registry within 30 days and awarded N500,000 in costs in favour of the PDP and against the defendants.
This is quite laudable of the judge and same judgement must also be applied to other political prostitute like state Governors who cross-carpeted on selfish interest
This is a clear evidence that they seriously beating their respective constituencies and protecting their families. Rubbish
A Daniel has come to judgement. The judiciary should try their possible best to moderate the political rascality of shameless politicians who always jump from one political party to another with people mandate. The rule of law must prevail. I hail you my lord.