On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja will rule on a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade.
The PDP had filed the FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 action before Justice Taiwo Taiwo, through its lawyer Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, seeking an order dismissing the governor and his deputy over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among other things.
On Tuesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learned from Court 7, where Justice Taiwo presided, that the judgment in the PDP’s suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 against Cross River governor and his deputy will be heard on Friday, March 25.
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Recall that Taiwo had ordered two members of the House of Representatives from Cross River and 18 members of the state’s House of Assembly to leave their seats due to their defection to the APC on Monday.
The order came after the PDP filed a lawsuit on Aug. 27, 2021, titled FHC/ABJ/CS/971/2021, challenging the 20 lawmakers’ and governor’s defection to the APC on May 20, 2021.
In his decision, Justice Taiwo dismissed the defense claim that the PDP (plaintiff) lacked locus standi (legal standing) to bring the action.
Other preliminary arguments submitted by the ousted legislators were also disregarded.
The lawmakers’ contention that there was rancor in the PDP, necessitating their defection to the APC, was declared by Taiwo to be a ruse to deceive the court.
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The court, who accepted all of the PDP’s requests, said it was depressing that leaders in the country treat citizens as if they are unimportant once they are elected.
“There will inevitably come a day when elected persons must either retire from office or ask the people who voted for them before defecting to other political parties, rather than defecting to another party without recourse to the law or the citizens,” he stated.
We cannot persist in sin and expect grace to abound, according to him.
The affected two members of the House of Representatives from the state are Michael Etaba and Legor Idagbor.
The 18 state’s lawmakers include the Speaker, House of Assembly, Eteng Williams; Mich Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Joseph Bassey, Odey Agbe and Okon Ephraim.
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Others are: Regina Anyogo, Matthew Olory, Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Udop, Ekpe Okon, Hillary Bisong, Francis Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Ogar and Maria Akwaji.
While Mr Etaba represents Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River, Mr Idagbor represents Obudu/Obaliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of the state.
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