The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gummi, member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, from the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates elected lawmakers to forfeit their seats if they leave the party on whose platform they were elected, except in cases of a proven division within that party.
The court held that Gummi failed to provide credible evidence of any division within the PDP, dismissing his claim that internal crises at the national and constituency levels forced his defection.
Justice Egwuatu consequently ordered Gummi to vacate his seat immediately and restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognizing him as a member.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was directed to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
In a strongly worded rebuke, the judge condemned what he described as the “growing culture of political prostitution” among Nigerian politicians.
“It is legally and morally wrong for a politician to abandon the party under which platform he or she was elected and move to a rival party without relinquishing the mandate of the electorates,” Justice Egwuatu stated.
“A politician has no right to transfer the votes of a political party to another. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician.”
The court further ordered Gummi to refund all salaries, allowances, and benefits he received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment. Proof of the refund must be filed with the court within 30 days.
Additionally, the court awarded ₦500,000 in costs against Gummi, the Speaker, and INEC in favour of the PDP.
The case was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, represented by Ibrahim Bawa, SAN.
The judgment has been hailed as a significant affirmation that the electoral mandate belongs to the political party and not the individual, and a clear warning to future defectors.
