In a major court ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Rep Abubakar Gummi, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Obiora Egwuatu stopped the Speaker of the House from recognizing Gummi as the representative and ordered a fresh election to be held within 30 days. The judge slammed the act of politicians switching parties without giving up their seats, calling it “political prostitution” and a betrayal of the voters’ trust. Gummi was also ordered to refund all salaries and allowances received since his defection and fined N500,000.
This judgment sends a strong message that lawmakers must honor the platform on which they were elected and that defection without proper legal grounds is unconstitutional. It also affirms the power of the electorate’s mandate, stressing that politicians cannot transfer vote mandates from one party to another.
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