The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gummi, the lawmaker representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, from office following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the court held that Gummi’s defection was unconstitutional since there was no division within the PDP, the party that sponsored his election.
Justice Egwuatu restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising Gummi as a sitting member and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
“Politicians must respect the wishes of the electorates who voted for them on the platform of a political party,” the judge said. “If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician.”
The ruling came in response to a suit filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, who argued that Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In their petition, the plaintiffs asked the court to declare his seat vacant, citing that his defection was not justified by any internal crisis within the PDP.
Gummi, however, claimed that his move to the APC was driven by internal conflicts within the PDP at both national and constituency levels, which he said made it difficult to represent his constituents effectively.
Justice Egwuatu rejected his defence, granting all reliefs sought by the plaintiffs and condemning what he described as the “growing culture of political prostitution.”
“A politician has no right to transfer votes garnered on the platform of one party to another,” the judge ruled. “Political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
The court also ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment, and to submit proof of repayment to the court registry within 30 days.
Additionally, a 500,000 fine was awarded in favour of the plaintiffs.
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