Court Sacks 20 Lawmakers Over Defection From PDP To APC In Cross River

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked 20 lawmakers from Cross River State over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

20 Lawmakers Sacked In Cross River

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two House of,Representatives members and 18 Cross River House of Assembly were affected by the judgment.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo delivered the judgment on Monday, March 21, following a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021, which was filed by the PDP.

The judge dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

He held that going by the outcome of the election that brought them in, their seats belong to the plaintiff and no other political party.

Justice Taiwo stated that the lawmakers needed to vacate their seats since they had abandoned the party which brought them to power.

He ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.

According to him, we cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound.

KanyiDaily recalls that similar verdict was given by the court when it sacked Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, his deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers, earlier this month.