By our Reporter
The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Rep. Abubakar Gummi of the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency from the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the court ruled that Gummi’s defection was unconstitutional since he left the party that sponsored his election without evidence of a division within the PDP.
The judge ordered the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop recognizing Gummi as a member and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the seat.
The case was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara Chairman, who argued that Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution prohibits a lawmaker from retaining a seat after defecting without a justified reason.
Gummi, through his lawyer, claimed he left due to unresolved internal crises in the PDP at both national and constituency levels. The court, however, rejected his argument and granted all the plaintiffs’ requests.
Justice Egwuatu criticized what he described as the growing culture of political defection, saying:
“If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates… Political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
The court further ordered Gummi to Stop receiving any salaries or allowances as a lawmaker and refund all payments he received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
In addition, submit proof of refund to the court within 30 days and a fine of ₦500,000 was also awarded against Gummi and the other defendants.
