Court Removes Lawmaker for Defecting from PDP to APC

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sacked Hon. Abubakar Gummi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his ruling, Justice Obiora Egwuatu declared that the lawmaker’s defection was unconstitutional and violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which bars elected legislators from crossing to another political party during their tenure except where a division exists within their party.

The judge therefore ordered the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately stop recognising Gummi as the representative of the constituency.

Justice Egwuatu also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.

The suit, filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, challenged Gummi’s continued stay in the National Assembly after his defection to the APC.

Gummi, through his counsel, had argued that he left the PDP because of internal crises that allegedly crippled the party’s structure in the state.

However, the court dismissed the claim, insisting that such political instability was not sufficient justification for defection under the Constitution.

Justice Egwuatu, in his judgment, warned that “electoral mandates must not be transferred at will.”

He added that party-switching as “political prostitution that should never be rewarded.”

The court further ordered the embattled lawmaker to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment and also awarded a ₦500,000 cost in favour of the plaintiffs.

With this ruling, the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency seat is officially declared vacant, paving the way for a new by-election to determine Gummi’s successor.