Again! Court Sacks 20 Cross River Lawmakers For Defecting To APC

ABUJA – Apparently to stop the trend of defecting from one party to the other after winning an election, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, March 21, 2022, sacked from office some members of the Federal House of Representatives and the Cross River State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Taiwo gave the order in a judgement on a suit by the PDP seeking the removal of the APC House of Representatives and State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC.

Recall, Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on March 8, 2022, in a judgment, ordered Umahi; his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, following their defection from the PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC.

The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them, among others.

Delivering judgement on the originating summon marked ABJ/FHC/CS/976/21, filed in August 2021 by the PDP, the court held that “The action of the 5th to the 25th Defendants is feeble and constitutes an attempt to pull a wool in the eyes of the court.

“Their counter affidavit is manifestly defective” Justice Taiwo held.

Consequently, the court granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, warning politicians to know that power belongs to the citizens.