Federal High Court sacks 20 lawmakers in C’River over defection

The Judiciary in Nigeria has given another landmark verdict on the subject of party defection of politicians as The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sacked 20 lawmakers from the Cross River State House of Assembly that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

In May 2021, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and the now sacked lawmakers dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The same court two weeks ago gave a judgment that could upset political behavior in the West African country as it ordered the removal of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

The sack of the Cross River state lawmakers gives credence to what political observers have tagged new precedence in Nigeria’s political history.

Also Read:Cross River Speaker denies knowledge of court judgement sacking lawmakers

Party defection is common among politicians. Sitting governors particularly are fond of switching party allegiance in Nigeria. There have been conflicting court rulings on the subject party of defection in Nigeria.

Like in the case of Ben Ayade cited above, in June 2021 the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, who was elected on the platform of the PDP after the Supreme Court nullified the victory of the APC in the 2019 elections in Zamfara State also joined Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

In February 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State struck out the suit challenging the defection of Governor Bello Matawalle and four others to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Opinions are divided on the recent rain of verdicts on party defections by politicians in Nigeria but one undeniable fact in all these is that Nigerians can brace up for more political shaping events as the 2023 general elections approach.