Zamfara: Court sacks rep over defection from PDP to APC, orders refund of salaries

PDP and APC logos

A federal high court in Abuja has sacked Abubakar Gummi, a lawmaker representing the Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of Zamfara state, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Delivering judgement on Thursday, Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, held that Gummi’s defection was unconstitutional since there was no division in the PDP at the time he left the party.

The judge restrained Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, from further recognising Gummi as a member of the lower chamber.In addition, Egwuatu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election to fill the vacant seat within 30 days.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara state chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, through their lawyer, Ibrahim Bawa.

The plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether Gummi’s defection from the PDP—which sponsored his election—to the APC was lawful, and whether the speaker’s failure to declare his seat vacant violated section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

In his defence, Gummi argued that his defection was triggered by what he described as “lingering unresolved internal and external crises” within the PDP at both national and constituency levels.

He claimed that the situation made it impossible for him to effectively represent his constituents and ensure equitable distribution of democratic dividends.

However, the judge dismissed the argument and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The judge criticised the growing trend of political defections, describing it as a betrayal of the electorate’s mandate.