PDP seeks end to defection, asks court to sack Matawalle, deputy

Admin l Tuesday, July 13, 2021

 

ABUJA,  Nigeria – The People Democratic Party(PDP) has kicked off the battle to stop cases of defection from the party by approaching a Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Bello Matawalle and his deputy, Mahadi Aliyu Gusau unfit to continue in office having defected from the party on whose platform they were elected.

If PDP succeeds,  Professor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State and Mr. David Umahi of Ebonyi State will all cease to be governor having defected from the party.

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In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/489/2021 filed by two PDP members from Zamfara State, Sani Kaura Ahmed and Abubakar Muhammed, the plaintiffs argued that in view of an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court to the effect that the APC had no candidates in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara State, having not conducted valid primaries, it would be unlawful for Matawalle and Gusau to retain their offices while defecting from the PDP to the APC, and thereby transfer PDP’s victory to the APC.

The defendants are Matawalle, Gusau, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They asked the court to declare that Matawalle and Gusau must resign from their offices before their defection to allow INEC to conduct fresh election, within three months, for the PDP to replace them.

They are represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN). After moving the motion, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted an order of substituted service of the originating processes on the governor and deputy governor.  Justice Ekwo ordered the plaintiffs to effect service within three days and adjourned the case till July 16.