By Akinwale Kasali
Hon. Abubakar Gummi, representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State in the House of Representatives has been sacked by the Federal High Court in Abuja for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising Gummi as a member representing Gummi/ Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.
Justice Egwuatu further 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 judgement.
Justice Egwuatu consequently awarded a fine of N500,000 in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024 was filed by the PDP and the Party’s Chairman in Zamfara State, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, as first and second plaintiffs.
The duo, in the originating summons dated November 28 but filed November 29, 2024, by Ibrahim Bawa, a Senior AdvocateofNigeria, SAN, sued Gummi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and INEC as first to third defendants, respectively.
The plaintiffs had set out four questions for determination and sought nine reliefs for determination.
They asked whether having regard to the provision of Section 68 (1) (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it was not unconstitutional for Gummi to retain his seat as member in the House.
They said the lawmaker defected from PDP which sponsored him for the election to Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency to APC, when there was no division in the party, among other questions.
One of the reliefs sought was a declaration that it was unconstitutional for the Speaker to refuse/fail to declare Gummi’s seat vacant.
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