According to The Punch, Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ruled that the seats of the lawmakers who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were vacant. Justice Omotosho affirmed that defection without justifiable cause violated the law and emphasized that legislators must remain loyal to their electoral mandates.
While Wike’s supporters argue that the defection was valid, critics like Clark maintain that it undermines democratic processes. Clark also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize immediate elections to fill the vacant seats, ensuring proper representation for the affected constituencies.
In response, Wike’s camp continues to challenge the ruling, citing past legal precedents to support their position. However, Justice Omotosho’s decision strengthens the argument that lawmakers must honor the platform under which they were elected, sending a message that political opportunism has consequences.
Clark further criticized the lawmakers for failing to disclose their defection to Justice Omotosho’s court, stating, “Not disclosing their defection to Justice Omotosho’s court shows clearly that the case in Justice Omotosho’s court is null and void and of no effect. Therefore, the judgment allegedly given by Justice Omotosho in suit no: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023 is null and void, and it was a judgment obtained by fraud.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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