The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Rep Abubakar Gummi, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gummi, represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara state in the House of Representatives.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, restrained the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising Gummi as member representing Gummi/ Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.
The Judge also made an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election to fill the vacancy for the constituency within 30 days from the day of the judgment.
The judgement in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, filed by the PDP and with its state’s Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, as 1st and 2nd plaintiffs, was delivered on Thursday but the Certified True Copy (CTC) was sighted by newsmen Friday.
The duo, in the originating summons filed on November 29, 2024, by Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, had sued Hon Abubakar Suleiman Gummi, Speaker of the House of Representatives and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs had, in their suit, 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 for defecting 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.
Gummi, in his response through his lawyer, filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit.
The lawmaker, in his argument, argued that his decampment was due to the crisis within the PDP and that, contrary to the deposition of the plaintiffs, the lingering unresolved internal and external crisis both at the national level and in his constituency is the reason for his defection from the party to APC.
Gummi said the crisis resulted into a state where he could no longer represent his constituents properly and ensure that they all benefit from shared distribution of the dividends of democracy within the bounds of law, and without undue interference from anyone or anything.
The judge, who condemned the attitude of some politicians who see defection as a normal culture held that, “Before I take my fingers off the key board, let me just add, that politicians should respect the wishes of the electorates that elected them into office.
“A situation where the electorates have made their choices between different political parties and their candidates based on the manifestos and marketability of such a political party, it is legally and morally wrong for such a politician to abandon the party under which platform he or she was elected into office and move to a rival party without relinquishing the mandate of his or her former party.
“If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates. Don’t transfer the votes garnered on the platform of one party to another party.
“A politician has no such rights to transfer votes of a political party to another political party. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician by the electorates.
“And that is what Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution has done. Political prostitution must not be rewarded.
“In total, I resolve all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants,” Justice Egwuatu held and ordered that Gummi , having defected from PDP to APC automatically loses his seat as member of the House of Representatives.
He made an order restraining Gummi from further receiving monies as salaries, allowances or howsoever called in his capacity as member representing the constituency.
He also made an order directing the lawmaker to refund to the Federal Government all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called as member representing the constituency from October 30, 2024 to the date of judgment.
“An order is made directing that the evidence of the refund of all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called be filed in the registry of this court within 30 days of the judgment of this court,” he held and consequently awarded a fine of N500, 000 in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.
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